Midfielder Archford Gutu is set to make his first Castle Lager Premier Soccer League start when Caps United host newly-promoted Border Strikers at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
By Kevin Mapasure
With captain Moses Muchenje having been ruled out with an injury, the former Dynamos star, who joined the club after a stint in Europe, will step in having been limited to substitute appearances in the first four matches.
Gutu came in and influenced the game last week when the Green Machine collided with arch-rivals Dynamos, which they won 1-0 with the solitary strike coming from Dominic Chungwa. But after patiently waiting for his turn, Gutu has the opportunity to impose himself more in the Caps starting line-up.
At their weekly Press conference yesterday, Gutu, who must have known that he would start on Sunday, said he was happy with the minutes he had been getting no matter how few and would patiently wait for his turn.
“I am happy with what I have contributed so far, we have a very strong team and I don’t mind sitting on the bench,” Gutu said.
“I always try to help the team the best way I can in those minutes that I would have been given. I know my turn will come when I can start and I will wait, but the current situation does not bother me.”
His coach Lloyd Chitembwe confirmed that Gutu will start on Sunday, while he was explaining the absence of Muchenje.
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“Muchenje will not be playing so it’s an opportunity for Gutu to step in,” Chitembwe said.
He added that he was proud as a coach to have so much quality at his disposal with players tussling for positions.
“I don’t choose the team to please anyone, it’s the players that have to impress me and I am glad that I have so many players of so much quality. Every player who gets a chance should grab it, but they all understand that they will get opportunities.”
Caps United have collected 10 points from a possible 12 and only FC Platinum have done better with a perfect record.
They will seek to consolidate their good start and maintain pressure on Norman Mapeza’s FC Platinum.
Chitembwe took the opportunity to explain that Muchenje had taken over captaincy from Method Mwanjali, who lost the armband following his arrest and court case over attempted murder.
