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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
EVERYTHING is positive at the CAPS United training venue.
As players go through various motor quality drills, including speed and endurance, under the watchful eyes of coach Lloyd Chitembwe, who also loves to lead by example, the chief executive Charlie Jones sits on the bench nodding.
There could be deals in the pot given the number of phone calls Jones is receiving.
The energy levels and focus at the venue dwarf the negativity that has become synonymous with Makepekepe over the past few weeks.
The Green Machine have been facing financial problems, resulting in unending strikes by the players and the results in the field of play have been close to atrocious.
Those problems are not entirely over but things are beginning to change.
The attitude of the players towards the training is encouraging and even the club president, Farai Jere, whose gentlemanly behaviour in accepting reality has won him critical acclaim, is happy.
The club’s coffers are beginning to breathe, thanks to the out-of-the-box initiatives by the club.
Chitembwe, who deserves credit for keeping the team together and even accepting brickbats of criticism when the chips were down, is beginning to reap the fruits of his patience.
Makepekepe are far from being at their best but given where they are coming from, Chitembwe believes the former giants can finish the season, which is 11 games away, on stronger terms.
The veteran gaffer believes the one-week break the season had last weekend afforded his charges a much-needed break to resuscitate their muscles.
Even long-term injury casualty Rodwell Chinyengetere is back and could be thrown into the fray when the team face Bulawayo City in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
It is a match Chitembwe knows will be tough given their opponents are desperate to find a step off the relegation zone.
Makepekepe have been kicking strong in recent weeks and the mentor credits that run to the new recruits, including the outstanding Emmanuel Mandiranga.
“We have had a credible preparatory phase and we are looking forward to the match fully aware that it won’t be easy. As CAPS United, we will try and impose ourselves in the game, this is the objective. The target is to try and win.
“We have had a very terrible phase in the season but we have also been very good in recent games.
“We are improving and getting stronger by the week.
“The coming in of Josta (Joel Ngodzo), Emmanuel Mandiranga, Clive Rupiya, Ben Musaka and Powell Govera has given us another dimension in which we are playing and we are happy with that and we want to keep improving as a team.
“At the end of the day, we want to finish the season at a very respectable position, this is our target,” said Chitembwe.
The 2016 league winner expressed optimism the coming back of Joel Ngodzo will also add the flair which has been lacking at the Green Machine.
Ngodzo has returned to Makepekepe after a short stint with Highlanders and he is ready to play a role for the team he has served with both distinction and honour.
But Chitembwe hinted he may have to wait a bit longer as he works on some aspects of his fitness.
“I think it’s still a long way for Josta. I am sure the team has been doing very well in recent weeks and it’s good to have Josta as part of the team and we know what he is capable of giving us on condition that he is in a good physical, mental and technical shape.
“But, I think he needs a couple of weeks to be in that state. We know he will give us the best he can.
“So we will be patient, we want him to get there and I think the rest will fall into place. I am sure Rodwell Chinyengetere will be ready to play this week.”
Online Reporter