New Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro has said he will bring back winning ways at the struggling Harare football giants and take them to a respectable position by the end of the campaign.
The former Monomotapa gaffer was appointed as Caps mentor at the weekend after they severed ties with manager Sean Connor following a spate of disappointing results.
After losing three successive matches against Highlanders (1-0), Hwange (2-1), and Dynamos (1-0), their 3-2 reverse defeat to Hwange at the Colliery on Sunday, which left them 17 points off the pace, was the final straw.
But the 42-year-old Mangwiro, who conducted his first training session with Makepekepe at Hellenics Sports Club with the help of his assistant Mkhuphali Masuku yesterday, said he would bring back the winning mentality which he said was lacking at Caps United.
“I had a good first day in office,” said Mangwiro, who has also coached Masvingo United and the now defunct Eastern Lions.
“It’s a huge challenge to coach Caps United, but I am looking forward to a bright future. When I coached them today (yesterday), the team didn’t look like they are struggling. The players are in high spirits and I will try to bring the winning mentality which I believe has been lacking.
“I have been telling them that they are down, but not out of it. It’s a great feeling to be coaching Caps United barely a week after I parted ways with Monomotapa. I am happy to be back at work.”
Mangwiro said he had recommended former Highlanders coach Masuku to be his assistant to the team management because he believed he had the credentials which would help them turn around the team’s fortunes.
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“When I got the job, I thought of Mkhuphali Masuku first and I recommended him to the team management. When you have such a challenge, you need someone like him (Masuku) besides you. He is a good coach and I think we will have a good working relationship,” he said.
The Caps United coach said he was looking forward to the big clash against Highlanders on Saturday.
“We are playing a team that is high on confidence.
“They are on top of the log and are still unbeaten, but we have been telling the players that they should have that winning mentality because winning against Highlanders will bring back the confidence in the team,” said Mangwiro, who guided Masvingo to a third-place finish in 2006 and 2007.
His predecessor, Connor, left the team in ninth place with 19 points — and 17 off leaders Highlanders. He won five games, lost seven and managed four draws in 16 games.
