By Eddie Chikamhi
Method Mwanjali’s recent troubles with the law have cost him the captaincy at CAPS United as the Green Machine technical team have decided to return the armband to midfielder Moses Muchenje until the storm surrounding the veteran defender has died down.
Muchenje wore the skipper’s armband last Sunday when Makepekepe beat eternal rivals Dynamos 1-0 to end a seven-year jinx.
Coach Lloyd Chitembwe yesterday told sports journalists that the move was meant to help the former skipper and the team to maintain their focus as the defender had come under intense spotlight over off-field events following a brawl which left a Harare man injured.
Mwanjali returned to football action last week and played 90 minutes against Dynamos as they won the Harare Derby.
The former Warriors defender was involved in crucial midfield battles in that match as a defensive-link.
He is expected to play a part in the next assignment against Border Strikers this weekend as Makepekepe seek to maintain their fine start to the season.
Chitembwe hinted that defender Stephen Makatuka will lead the team in the absence of Muchenje who is nursing an injury.
Muchenje has failed to recover on time after he was pulled out in the second half of the Harare Derby injured. Chitembwe yesterday clarified the structure of the captaincy.
“Method was the team captain until last week. Moses was the vice-captain and Stephen was the third captain. But after what happened I had to change.
“I didn’t want unnecessary attention on the team leader. That is the reason why I gave the armband to Moses. And as I speak Moses is the team captain.
“Unfortunately on Sunday he won’t be participating, he will be out and Stephen will be in charge of the team while Method will be playing,” said Chitembwe.
CAPS United are still unbeaten after four matches and have raked in 10 points from a possible 12 after winning three of their matches and drawing one.
Chitembwe was visibly thrilled with the momentum his side has gathered early in the season and expects his charges to retain the same craving for positive results which has characterised their campaign so far.
Spirits are high in the Green Machine camp especially after the significant win over Dynamos last week. Chitembwe, however, believes they need not lose their focus as it is still early in the season.
The former midfielder believes the side should continue working hard and appealed to the supporters and the management to continue with the support they have rendered the team from the beginning.
“We are not looking at what we have achieved because in as far as we are concerned we haven’t done anything.
“We have an unquenchable thirst of wanting to do well in the next game so we are not really looking at what we have done in the past games.
“I think as long as we can retain the same kind of desire and hunger we can go on and do well in the coming games.
“We didn’t win against Dynamos simply because players were self-motivated, but there must be something that the players, the technical team and the backroom staff did that obviously worked for the good of the team.
“So I think going into this game, whoever is associated with the club, the players, the coaches and the administrators are expected to do the same things that they have been doing for us to get the result that we expect on Sunday,” said Chitembwe.
He said his players are looking forward to the match with unparalleled enthusiasm.
But besides Muchenje who has been ruled out because of injury, there is still no good news regarding Tafadzwa Rusike who has been down with a knock for about two weeks.
Chitembwe said the diminutive midfielder will miss the action again this weekend.
The coach also hinted there could be strategic changes to the team this weekend as competition for places remains high.
Fixtures
Saturday: Chicken Inn v Bulawayo City (Luveve), Tsholotsho v Ngezi Platinum Stars (White City), FC Platinum v Harare City (Mandava)
Sunday: Mutare City Rovers v How Mine (Sakubva) CAPS United v Border Strikers (National Sports Stadium) Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), Triangle United v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), Highlanders v Chapungu (Barbourfields). The Herald
