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NewsDay

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Chitembwe’s herculean task

Sport
AS Lloyd Chitembwe returns to the Caps United dressing room three years after he was sacked, the spotlight will naturally brighten, the pressure will grow, and his every match will be scrutinised closely.

AS Lloyd Chitembwe returns to the Caps United dressing room three years after he was sacked, the spotlight will naturally brighten, the pressure will grow, and his every match will be scrutinised closely.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

He was assistant to Northern Irishman Sean Connor when the Caps United hierarchy decided to crack the whip after a spate of dreadful results with the defeat to Hwange in August 2012 being the final straw.

Although, Chitembwe — known for being a strict disciplinarian — maintains he has always been used to pressure since his days as a player, that he has been tasked to lead the team to a top-four finish by the end of the campaign makes it a herculean task.

Lloyd-Chitembwe-(right)-chats-with-his-assistant-Mark-mathe-just-after-he-was-unveiled-as-new-Caps-United-coach-last-week

The Caps United gaffer who was appointed on an interim basis has just nine games to prove he is the right man to lead the Green Machine to the Promised Land next season.

It’s also an opportunity for him to make a mark in the top-flight league having been relegated to the lower divisions where he was coaching Starbill.

His bid for a top-four finish starts with a home tie against army side Buffaloes at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.

After that he still has difficult assignments against Hwange (away), Highlanders (home), ZPC Kariba (away), Triangle (home), Dynamos (away), How Mine (home), FC Platinum (away) and WhaWha (home).

Now, these are very difficult opponents to face at this stage of the campaign. Bitter rivals Dynamos in second position on the league table are in top form and are yet to lose a league match since Tonderai Ndiraya took over from David Mandigora, beating ZPC Kariba 2-1, fancied Triangle 2-0 at Gibbo before seeing off How Mine 1-0 in the previous match at Rufaro.

FC Platinum’s Norman Mapeza is the Castle Lager Coach of the Month for June/July. His has not lost in the last five matches winning four and drawing one match. The Platinum miners are coming from a 1-0 defeat of Triangle, drew 0-0 against ZPC, overcame, Highlanders 2-1 at Barbourfields, beat Hwange 2-0 while Buffaloes were handed a 3-0 hiding.

However, Chitembwe will have to take it game by game and on Sunday he has the opportunity to collect maximum points at home against a team that has won only one match – a 2-0 victory over Flame Lily — in the last five matches.