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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO businessman and staunch Caps United supporter Alex Munyaka has been appointed a member of the club’s board of directors.Munyaka is part of a six-member board whose mandate is to steer the former Cup Kings into success next season.
Some of the members in the board are prominent lawyer Lewis Uriri, who has served Caps United in a different capacity in the past, Nhamo Tutisani, Mordecai Sachikonye, Khumbulani Mhlope and Munyaradzi Mazhande.
Mhlope, who is president of Sojama Economic Development Institute, a member of the Economic Development Institute of Zimbabwe and was part of the Zimbabwe delegation at the Sixth All-Africa Investment Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last month, will take care of the commercial portfolio at the club.
Uriri brings in a wealth of legal expertise, Tutisani will handle marketing, Sachikonye, a loyal Caps United son who has been the team doctor for years, will handle the technical wing, Munyaka will handle the fans and Mazhande has the mission to help the club tap into technology as part of boosting its brand.
In an interview yesterday, Munyaka said he was honoured to be part of Caps United’s leadership and would strive to ensure the club grows.
He challenged members of his portfolio to rally behind the club and protect the Caps United brand. The Green Machine who are reeling in financial challenges like most clubs are $22,000 down for their offences, mostly coming from their supporters’ wayward behaviour.
“I believe this is a good step in as far as developing Caps United is concerned. The president Twine Phiri has done tremendously well for the club considering the circumstances he is in heading the PSL and the club. I believe appointing the board of directors gives him room to relax a bit and everyone at Caps United will have to play their part to make this club great.
“Caps United is a brand that is capable of attracting strategic partners and my challenge to supporters not only the Green Machine followers, but football supporters is that we should protect the football brand because no sponsor wants their name to be associated with bad publicity.
“Supporters must learn how to behave in stadia and I will be going around meeting Caps United chapters to do some fan development programmes,” said Munyaka.
Caps United’s president Twine Phiri said those that have been brought on board will help tap into the new sources of funds, to underwrite the operational costs and ensure the club’s campaign next season.
“I have confidence that we have put in place a board which has men of integrity, who will make a big difference at Caps United. The board will also be expected to mobilise resources for the club and also chart the way we have to follow as a team in our mission to compete very well from next year and give our fans something to cheer their spirits.
“While Caps United competed very well this year, it didn’t grow as a brand or as a business and we hope these men whom we have tasked with helping us to move forward, will make that difference.
“It has not been an easy season for us, we suffered because of a lack of funds, and we want to try and make sure that we will be in a very good financial position come next year so that we can compete at the same level with our major rivals.
“We expect to challenge for honours next season and we are targeting for the league championship,” said Phiri.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter