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Lloyd Chitembwe

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
VETERAN ZPC Kariba coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa has described CAPS United gaffer Lloyd Chitembwe as one for the future.

Chidzambwa also believes the CAPS United coach is on the right track after making a promising start in the Castle Lager Premiership soccer championship race with the Green Machine this year.

ZPC Kariba will meet CAPS United in a league showdown at Rufaro on Saturday while the power utility side stated they are coming here to fight for the full points, the former Warriors and Dynamos coach Chidzambwa also took time to sing praises for his opposite number, Chitembwe.

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The former CAPS United midfielder has managed to transform the Green Machine’s fortunes in a short period of time and is being rewarded with some good results.

Makepekepe are currently lying third on the log table with 13 points, three behind pacesetters FC Platinum.

“Lloyd (Chitembwe) is a good coach. He is a very principled coach. I think he is going to be one of the best coaches this country has ever produced,” said Chidzambwa.

Chidzambwa said he knows that Saturday’s match would be a tough contest as the Green Machine have a very competitive squad which is hungry for success.

“It is a difficult game for us. We are playing away from home and playing against one of the big guns in Zimbabwean football.

“They have a strong squad this season, they are third on the log and it is not going to be an easy match for us,” he said.

ZPC Kariba go into this match coming from a morale-boosting victory over newboys Mutare City Rovers where they had to snatch a late winner in stoppage-time.

Chidzambwa said they are working hard so that they can upset the Harare giants who are yet to lose a match at home this season. They are also wary of CAPS United who are more like a wounded lion after they suffered their first defeat this season after going down 2-1 to How Mine in their last game.

Chitembwe’s charges will be seeking to bounce back to their winning ways on Saturday but Chidzambwa yesterday said they should not expect to get the three points on a silver platter.

“We are preparing for the big battle. We are working hard for the game and we will not give it to them easily. We are going to put up a brave show in Harare.

“They will have to fight hard if they want to beat us,” he said.

The hosts have been forced to change their venue to Rufaro on a Saturday, paving the way for the national Under-20 side who host their Cameroon counterparts at the National Sports Stadium the following day.

Chidzambwa’s side has had a decent start. They have managed three victories, two draws and lost once in their opening six matches. It seems a good start for a team which last season had to fight for survival.

They have since embarked on a rebuilding exercise to increase their competitiveness this year.

And Chidzambwa believes they have made a fair start although he would have wished for something better than this.

The coach welcomes back midfielder Takudzwa Mahori who was injured and missed last weekend’s match against Mutare City Rovers.

On Wisdom Mutasa, the ZPC Kariba coach is still waiting for the report from the medical team before the player resumes training.

However, forward Leonard Fiyado, who pulled a muscle during last week’s training session, is still out of action and will miss the match against his former paymasters.

“Every game you play to win but you know what happens in football . . . there are three results but you approach every game with a winning mentality.

“The weekend’s game is just like our match against Mutare City Rovers as every team in the league is competitive. Mutare City Rovers gave us a tough time, we wasted many chances and only managed to score two late goals to win the match,” Chidzambwa said.

Fixtures

Saturday: FC Platinum v Border Strikers (Mandava), Tsholotsho v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Chapungu v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Ascot), CAPS United v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro).

Sunday: Mutare City Rovers v Chicken Inn (Sakubva), Triangle United v Bulawayo City (Gibbo), Hwange v How Mine (Colliery), Highlanders v Harare City (Barbourfields).