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Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
HARARE giants CAPS United are set to leave for Malawi by road tomorrow to participate in the inaugural edition of the four-team Zambezi Cup in Blantyre over this weekend. The Green Machine will be the only foreign side at the tournament where they will take on Silver Bullets on Saturday while Big Bullets play Wanderers in an epic Blantyre derby later in the day at Kamuzu Stadium.

Kelvin Moyo, whose company Topsport is involved in the Zambezi Cup, said their mission had been to invite teams from Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe for the matches in Malawi.

“Our aim was to get one team from Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi. We had invited Liga Muculmana of Mozambique but they have indicated that they will be involved in the Champions League,” Moyo told The Herald from Blantyre.

“We could also not get a team from Zambia but CAPS United are coming here. I think since 2004, Malawian teams have not been playing in the African Champions League and this was because the teams were not well organised and some had poor funding.

“So, we think CAPS United will be able to give the Malawian sides a test of international football so that they know where they stand.”
Moyo said Malawian fans voted for the top three clubs to play in the Zambezi Cup with Big Bullets, the most popular team in that country, gaining most of the votes while Silver Strikers were in second place.

“So it means CAPS United are going to play the cream of Malawi football. It’s going to be semi-finals on Saturday and it’s a Wafa-Wafa. The winners will meet in the final on Sunday.”

Yesterday, CAPS United manager, Louis Maio, was hopeful the tour to Malawi will help the Green Machine in their preparations for the new season.

“Our preparations are still going on and it’s a long process. We are supposed to leave for Malawi on Friday and so far the squad is in good shape,” said Maio.

CAPS United have signed former Shabanie Mine forward Pervington Zimunya, the gangly Tongai Mangwedere and Asani Nhongo makes a return to the club.

However, the club lost Tawanda Munyanduri, Tawanda Nyamandwe, Arnold Chivheya and Benson Maglasi at the end of last season.
“The coach is still assessing the squad and we are going to take the tour seriously as it will help us gauge our preparedness for the season.
“Our main goal should be to win the league this season and we need to have good preparations,” said Maio.

CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro is working with former Arcadia United midfielder Mike Madzivanyika and Richard Tswatswa as his assistant coaches.