AN overwhelming 91 players attended Caps United trials yesterday as the Harare football giants began their 2014 pre-season preparations. TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Veteran former Buymore defender James Matola was one of the notable players who attended the trials as he seeks to wind up his career at the Harare giants.
Evans Gwekwerere — a former Caps United striker who had left to join relegated police side Black Mambas — is also seeking a comeback and was part of those who went for trials.
Former Dynamos midfielder Eddie Mashiri was also part of the crew that included the Black Mambas pair of Godknows Mangani and Benson Nyahunzvi.
Former Shabanie Mine midfielder Pevington Zimunya was also in attendance, but has already been snapped up by the Green Machine. Hippo Valley’s Tongai Mangwendere has also been signed by the Harare giants and was part of the squad that trained under the watchful eye of head coach Taurai Mangwiro.
But towering striker Tawanda Nyamandwe, Rahman Kutsanzira, Tawanda Munyanduri, David Rediyoni, Munashe Muchembeza, George Magariro and Ronald Pfumbidzai did not attend Caps United’s first training session.
Nyamandwe, Munyanduri and Rediyoni are understood to have followed former Caps United assistant coach Saul Chaminuka to join ZPC Kariba while Magariro is reported to have joined How Mine.
Mangwiro said Muchembeza was down with yellow fever.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“We want to retain the bulk of the players we had last season so I will just pick three players from this group. It’s not like we are starting altogether. We had a team and I am retaining most of the players we had.
“Players like Nyamandwe —who was out of contract, Munyanduri and Rediyoni are understood to have joined ZPC Kariba,” Mangwiro said.
“The last time I spoke to Kutsanzira, he said he was coming. “We are also expecting Pfumbidzai and Hardman Muchiso to join training.
“My vision is to have an Under-20 team that will compete in Division One so I will assess most of the players who are in this age group. Those who fail to make the grade should not think it’s the end of the world.
“There are coaches who I communicate with most of the time and I will always recommend them.”
The Caps United coach, who parted ways with Brian Mapfumo and Gift Phiri, said members of his technical team, including goalkeepers’ coach Brenna Msiska, would also have to go through some interviews first for them to be considered as part of a new technical bench.
“We have asked Brian Mapfumo and Gift Phiri to look for other clubs.
As for Msiska, he will have to undergo some interviews first like I did. At the moment, I am going it alone,” Mangwiro said. Albert Mabika, who was in charge of the junior development, was also affected by the changes.
Mangwiro has already made recommendations to the board for the recruitment of new technical personnel with Mkhuphali Masuku or Tonderayi Ndiraya likely to come in.
The Green Machine did relatively well last season after finishing a credible fifth position to qualify for the BancABC Sup8r Cup.
