ONE of the traditional giants of Zimbabwean football Caps United are rubbing their eyes and waking up to a transformed landscape.
After seasons of flirting with the mid-table and financial instability, Caps United have officially signalled a return to its status as the “Cup Kings”.
At the heart of this reawakening is Takesure Chiragwi, the man tasked with steering the Green Machine back to the pinnacle of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Chiragwi, who famously led Ngezi Platinum Stars to a historic league title in 2023, arrives at Makepekepe with a pedigree of success and a clear vision.
As he prepares for his first season in charge, the optimism surrounding the club is palpable, bolstered by a landmark US$4,3 million sponsorship deal with Lesotho’s Green Dollar Development Bank.
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Unlike the frantic, last-minute recruitment drives of previous years, Caps United’s 2026 campaign is built on a foundation of deliberate planning. Chiragwi has assembled a “healthy” squad that blends familiar faces from his championship-winning days at Ngezi with the club’s established stars.
“Yeah, we are very happy,” Chiragwi said in a recent interview.
“I think it’s a very healthy squad that is always competing every day.
“We are happy with how they are performing and how they are conducting themselves toward each other.”
The influx of talent is staggering.
New signings like Wallace Magalene, Davison Marowa, Obriel Chirinda and Richard Hachiro are joining forces with retained veterans like Tanaka Shandirwa, Kundai Benyu, Phinias Bamusi and Bruce Kangwa.
For Chiragwi, the focus isn’t just on talent, but on the chemistry between the new and the old.
To solidify this new-look team, the Green Machine are heading to Malawi for a high-profile preseason training camp beginning February 12.
Chiragwi views this trip as the spiritual cornerstone of their preparations.
“In terms of blending and bonding, I think this is the right time,” Chiragwi noted, expressing gratitude to club president Farai Jere for the investment.
“It’s important to spend more time together... knowing each other, the characters and everything.
“I think that’s the most important camp we are going to have.”
Currently, the technical team — which includes former Caps United stars Ian Bakala and Joseph Kamwendo—is focusing heavily on physical conditioning.
Chiragwi noted that the response from the players has been “so good”, with no injuries reported as they transition from the off-season into match fitness.
For Chiragwi, this isn’t just another job; it’s a homecoming.
Having donned the green shirt as a player, he understands the weight of expectation that comes with the badge.
He speaks with reverence of his mentor, Lloyd Chitembwe, and the legacy left by those who came before him.
“I’m more than excited, but on a different platform as a coach,” he shared.
“Myself, coach Ian, and coach Jose (Kamwendo) are all former players here.
“We’ve won things as players, and now we have the opportunity to bring a bit of silverware to the club as coaches."
With a refurbished Gwanzura Stadium on the horizon and a squad dripping with quality, the 2026 season feels less like a rebuilding year and more like a coronation in the making.
The Green Machine will officially unveil their kit and final squad on February 27, but the message is already clear: the giant is awake, and is hungry for gold.