CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe has finalised assembling his “galacticos” ahead of the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season with the capture of Tafadzwa Rusike on a one-year contract.
BY HENRY MHARA
One of the club’s directors, Nhamo Tutisani, yesterday confirmed that Rusike penned a one-year deal on Wednesday.
Tutisani said the club is done with its transfer business and what is left is for Chitembwe to add on the five Under-20 players to the team as required by the PSL.
The five will be promoted from Caps United’s feeder club Gunners.
The completion of the deal with Rusike, who has been training with the club for the past few weeks, gives Chitembwe a rather pleasant problem to mull over ahead of the new season where the Harare giants will be looking to recapture the glory days.
Caps United last won the league title 12 years ago, and all that time they have been a jealous admirer of their fiercest city rivals Dynamos, who won the championship five times in that period.
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United owners have responded by opening the chequebook and snapped up some of the finest players available on the market.
In addition to Rusike, the club this week announced the capture of Archford Gutu, who left Kalmar FF in Sweden, sensationally gazumping Dynamos who had looked odds-on favourites to land the creative midfielder.
The Green Machine’s business before this week has been significant as well, with other major signings including Brian Abbas Amidu, 2014 Soccer Star of the Year winner Dennis Dauda, former captain Method Mwanjali, former defender Gilbert Mapemba and Ronald Pfumbidzai.
Striker Simba Nhivi joined mid-season last year, but couldn’t be registered to play, but is clear to feature for the team and is likely to lead the Caps United attack this season.
Caps United have also brought in Allan Gahadzikwa and Cabby Kamhapa, who are quite notable additions to the squad.
And to show how serious they are about winning the league title this season, the team has lined up a number of international friendlies against formidable opponents.
Following their match against Kabwe Warriors of Zambia on Tuesday this week at the National Sports Stadium, Chitembwe’s side is set to travel to Mozambique next week for a four-team tournament.
“We will be travelling to Mozambique on the weekend of 19-21 this month,” Tutisani said. “We have been invited for a four-team tournament that will involve the country’s league champions Club Ferroviario Maputo, Clube Ferroviario da Beira and Textafrica de Chimoio. It will be played in a round robin format,” said Tutisani.
Seven days later, Caps United will be back on the road, this time going Down South where they are set to play friendly matches against that country’s runaway log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits University.
“We have agreed in principle with the two clubs, but we are still sorting some few logistics but we should be going to South Africa for a 10-day camp,” added Tutisani.
