Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
NYASHA Gurende knows what he looking for at CAPS United – winning the Castle Lager Premiership title.
The Green Machine moved two points clear at the top of the table this week.
“From day one, coach Takesure Chiragwi told us not to hide our intentions and that’s what we have been doing. Since we went out for the pre-season in Malawi, our objective has always been to win the championship at the end of the season.”
Makepekepe play Simba Bhora at Wadzanai tomorrow. Coincidentally, Simba Bhora are Gurende’s former paymasters.
The tough defender turned out for Simba before moving to Ngezi Platinum Stars last season.
He is part of a group of players who joined Makepekepe en-masse from Madamburo at the beginning of the season.
A son of a policeman, Gurende was born and bred at a Harare police camp, before he took up football as a profession.
The lanky defender says he is enjoying life at Makepekepe. “I played in my first Harare derby last Sunday, what an atmosphere that was. I had never experienced such an atmosphere in my whole playing career.
“We are united and we are one big family.
“I think we will do well as a family, everyone is showing energy. We will keep grinding results as a team.” As a boy, Gurende honed his skills at ZRP Tomilson Depot academy.
At some he also tried his luck at Masvingo United and Manica Diamonds.
“What I encountered at Manica Diamonds, who were still in Division One, almost forced me to quit football.
“I was then called up at Chicken Inn where I signed my first professional contract in January 2019.
“I played less than seven games, it was my first year and I lacked experience.
“Come 2020 January pre-season they informed me I wasn’t in their plans.
“I was told just before the games started, they wanted to loan me out to Hwange.
“But I came back home and there was lockdown and I ended up playing money games to keep fit.”
Short stints at Whawha and Bulawayo City would come before Gurende moved to Cranborne Bullets.
As they say, the rest is history.
“I am now at CAPS United, one of the biggest teams in the country and I am happy.
“I am playing under coach Chiragwi, a gaffer I respect so much and I am sure we will achieve something come the end of the season.”
Bongani Ndlovu