Harare City raid Caps United

By Eddie Chikamhi

HARARE City have swooped on the former CAPS United duo of Nicholas Alifandika and Honey Chimutimunzeve after agreeing two-year deals with the players in their quest to build a highly competitive side ahead of the new Premiership soccer season.

The two players were on loan at CAPS United last season after joining the Harare giants during the middle of the season from Division One side ZRP FC.

But the duo became free agents at the end of the year when their contracts with ZRP expired and decided to move to the Sunshine Boys where they are now set to reunite with their former coaches at CAPS United — Taurai Mangwiro and Mike “Dread” Madzivanyika.

City have also signed two former CAPS United players, Tafadzwa Dube and Tendai Samanja, during the off-season break when they also snatched Soccer Star of the Year finalist Themba Ndlovu from Dynamos, Munashe Chinembeza from Chiredzi and ex-Kaizer Chiefs defender Lincolin Zvasiya.

Alifandika yesterday said he was happy to make the move and is now looking to further his career at the Sunshine Boys.

The former Dynamos winger had a commendable show in the second half of the previous season when, together with Chimutimunzeve, they helped Makepekepe to a decent top three finish after being given a chance to re-establish themselves in the Premiership from relegated ZRP FC (formerly Black Mambas).

Alifandika yesterday said he will look to repay the faith shown in him by the City Fathers.

“Personally, I am happy to have completed this move. I am looking forward to a good time at Harare City in the next two seasons. They have a good side with good players and I know I will have to work very hard.

“I have my own targets as a player. I want to achieve something tangible in my career. I have played with some of the guys who are at Harare City and I think I will fit in well.

“Many people would be tempted to think that I made this move because I was following the coach (Mangwiro) but that is not the case. I am my own man. City have always wanted my services and I had to make this decision since my contract with ZRP had expired,” said Alifandika.

Harare City are scheduled to begin their pre-season training today. The arrival of Alifandika and Chimutimunzeve should be good cover following the departure of forwards Agrippa Murimba and Misheck Mburayi who were recently off-loaded by the side.

The club’s secretary-general, Matthew Marara, yesterday said the Sunshine Boys are looking to be competitive this year after surviving relegation at the eleventh hour in the previous season.

To their advantage, Harare City have managed to retain the core of their side and will be looking to build their outfit around the experience of David Kutyauripo, Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, James Jam, Martin Vengesayi, Crispen Dickson, Talent Chawapiwa, William Manondo and Francisco Zekumbawira.

The side has since beefed up their technical department after assembling one of the most experienced coaching units comprising some of the country’s top football brains from the junior structures up to the senior team.

Their junior development technical structures include the likes of top coaches like Elvis “Chuchu” Chiweshe, David George and Masimba Dinyero, who was the head coach last season.

City have also brought on board junior players in the form of ex-Chemhanza schoolboys Tatenda Elvis Tumba and Tatenda Munditi, a goalkeeper who was in the books of Division One Eastern side Mutare City.

Young Warriors prodigy Tino Kadewere will also be registered among the Under-20 players.

“I think our squad is now complete.

“We struggled last year but the good thing is we survived relegation. Our aim this year is a top six finish and we will work hard towards that,” said Marara.

“We are happy we have added some more players to our squad but in future we are looking to make full use of our junior structures to build our team.

“We would need to draw players from our juniors.

“The structures are in place and we are hoping to have a league running in council schools where we are looking to tap the talent.

“The last time we only had a one-off tournament but the league will give the players more exposure,” said Marara. The Herald