Former Chicken Inn coach, Joey Antipas, now at South Africa’s second-tier league side AmaZulu, has come back bidding to rob Caps United of their most trusted centre-back and vice-captain, Stephen Makatuka.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
NewsDay Sport is reliably informed that the National First Division side is interested in signing Makatuka in the current transfer window, which closes on August 31, a deal, which could hamper the Green Machine’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title bid.
Antipas is a long-time admirer of the defender, who travelled with the Warriors to the Chan tournament held in Rwanda at the beginning of the year.
Antipas came close to signing Makatuka for Chicken Inn at the end of 2015, as he sought to bolster his squad for the 2016 Caf Champions League, but Caps managed to hold on to their prized asset.
The former, Motor Action coach joined AmaZulu after impressing the club, when he took Chicken Inn into the Champions League, where they lost 2-1 to Sundowns on aggregate in the preliminary round of the competition.
Caps are already reeling at the prospect of losing forward Abbas Amidu, who has travelled to Tanzania, hoping to thrash out a deal at Azam FC, and to have another player leaving will be worrying to the club’s fans.
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Former captain, Method Mwanjali has since left the club to play his football in Tanzania, as well.
Makatuka’s manager, George Deda could neither confirm nor deny the interest in Makatuka from South Africa, referring questions to Caps United.
“The best people to speak to are the members of the Caps United management,” he said.
It has been established, however, that the player has been told of the interest coming from South Africa and is keen on making the move, although he still has five months left on his contract with Caps.
Makatuka is quite comfortable on the ball and Antipas has identified him as a potential signing that could help AmaZulu in their push to return to the top-flight league.
Deda has been busy in the transfer market, trying to clinch deals for his players, who include Amidu.
He confirmed yesterday that Amidu had already left the country for Tanzania, two days after returning from Germany, where he underwent a two-week trial stint with lower division side, SSv Ulm 1846 together with his younger brother, Brett of Dynamos.
Deda’s other client, Highlanders utility player, Bruce Kangwa, has also been invited by Tanzanian top-flight league side, Azam. He left on Tuesday for what his handlers say is a familiarisation trip, with the club, which could also be a big blow to Highlanders’ title aspirations, after they also lost striker Knox Mutizwa to Bidvest Wits of South Africa.
And the likely departure of Makatuka and Amidu could also affect Caps United’s league title push after a good run in the first round of the campaign, where they are third on the league table, with just a point separating them from log leaders Highlanders and second-placed FC Platinum, both on 30 points.
The 27-year-old Makatuka has had an on-and-off relationship with the Warriors, where he was left out of the side that participated at the Cosafa Cup in Namibia, having played at the Chan tournament.
Since then, the former Hippo Valley defender has not looked back and he was voted as one of the Soccer Stars of the Year finalists for last season.
Should he leave Caps United, coach, Lloyd Chitembwe can turn to Dennis Dauda, who has been used as a bit-part player since he joined the club from ZPC Kariba.
