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NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER . . . CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe and his utility player, Hardlife Zvirekwi, address the media at the club’s weekly Press conference ahead of the Harare Derby at Rufaro on Sunday

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
CAPS United skipper Method Mwanjali will try to put behind him the nightmare which saw him spend a week in police custody following a brawl at a night club when he leads the Green Machine in the Harare Derby at Rufaro on Sunday. Sources at Makepekepe revealed last night that Mwanjali was set to be thrown into the deep end, for his first start since his return to the club, in a midfield role for the Green Machine.

Coach Lloyd Chitembwe, flanked by his players Hardlife Zvirekwi and Justice Jangano, said Mwanjali and Archiford Gutu were up for selection for the Harare Derby. Yesterday, the duo featured in a practise match against a Division Two side New Life Academy at Barclays Sports Club. “Method and Archiford are an important part of the team, just like any other player at CAPS United,” said Chitembwe.

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“All the players are important, we value their contribution, we value what they bring to the team so given an opportunity, obviously, any coach would want to play his best players so, in as far as I am concerned, they are also in contention for the slots if they are lucky to be part of the team.

“I think they will enjoy every moment on Sunday, I don’t think they will feel bad about it.” Chitembwe said his newboys will gradually fit into the system. “There are reasons as to why we brought them in. One, we just wanted to have depth within the squad, that is point number one,” said Chitembwe.

“Point number two, we believe in their qualities as football players. We thought the team that ended the season last year had done a lot of very good things, so we didn’t want to lose certain qualities that we had already identified within that group. We just wanted to consolidate the gains. So, we thought it was very important to have the team and try and improve on the areas that we felt we were not so good and that is the reason we had to move Justice (Jangano) from the left back to central defence because as a left back he was not giving us as much as we would have wanted and I think we have improved in that area by having Ronald (Pfumbidzai) who is giving us more in terms of going forward and defensively is very solid.

“Last year Jussy was very solid but not giving us as much going forward as Ronald is giving us.” Chitembwe feels the blockbuster match still attracts a lot of excitement and still has its value. “I think that is perception (that the Derby is not a big deal anymore), it hasn’t lost anything, the reason why you guys are calling asking us to give you news is simply because of the importance of the Derby, so it hasn’t lost anything,” said Chitembwe.

“In any case it has gained so much, I am sure Alois (Bunjira) here can attest to what I am saying, it has gained so much. “When we were playing it never used to draw as much attention as it is drawing now, right now, I am sitting in front of almost 20 journalists and kudhara maybe Assel Gwekwerere (the late Sunday Mail Sports Editor), would ask questions but now I am addressing a full house of journalists, that tells you of the importance of the Derby.

“So, in as far as I am concerned, that is only perception, it hasn’t lost any value and it is still as big as it was before.”