CAPS United president Farai Jere has thrown a veiled attack on the players who represented the club last season, questioning their impact during a campaign where the Harare giants found themselves fighting a gruelling battle against relegation.
Jere pulled no punches, while speaking at the unveiling of five high-profile mid-season signings at the club’s training session yesterday.
The Makepekepe boss challenged the newcomers to leave a lasting legacy, contrasting the forgettable nature of recent squads with the club’s iconic 1996 championship-winning team.
“Among us is the legendary Alois Bunjira, who illuminated our stadiums, who made us happy.
“That was back then in 1996, but if you ask any Caps United supporter, he will tell you the 1996 first 11. Even myself, I can vividly remember it,” Jere said.
“But if you ask me, I cannot remember the first 11 last year. The players who played for Caps United last season, I can’t even remember them.
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“It shows you the impact of coming here and delivering. It’s not about when you arrive, but how you have arrived.”
Caps United have wasted no time in swinging the axe and bolstering their options as their title aspirations rapidly fade.
After leading the league race for the better part of the first half of the season, a dreadful run of just one win in their last nine matches has derailed their campaign.
The Harare giants currently sit fourth on the table with 34 points from 20 matches, which leaves them nine points behind defending champions and current leaders, Scottland FC, who are on 43 points.
To arrest the slump, the club confirmed five new signings to reshape the squad.
Malawian midfielder Precious Phiri joins from FC Platinum, while Malawian winger Vunga Uchizi arrives from Silver Strikers.
The club has also added Botswana international goalkeeper Victor James from Jwaneng Galaxy and veteran Warriors goalkeeper Washington Arubi, who joins as a free agent following his departure from South African outfit Marumo Gallants.
The fifth addition is veteran Congolese striker Chris Mugalu, the 35-year-old who played for the club last season and bounces back after being left unregistered for the first half of the campaign.
Arubi’s high-profile arrival comes as a direct replacement for Wallace Magalane, who is expected to exit the club.
Magalane fell out of favour with Jere following a costly goalkeeping blunder in last week’s damaging defeat to Triangle United.
Jere emphasised that the new signings should hit the ground running, particularly with a blockbuster fixture looming this weekend against a heavily invested rival.
Caps United travel to face second-placed Hardrock FC, who sit on 38 points, which is four ahead of Makepekepe and five behind leaders Scottland.
“You are coming in when we are facing one of our rivals in terms of the way they’ve done their business, how they’ve invested. So we’ve got an interesting match this weekend where everyone will be watching you,” Jere added, while rallying the rest of the squad to not give up on the championship.
“We’re looking forward to reviving our season which was seemingly fading away from us.
“We have actually assisted you in bringing the guys who can help you to achieve the dream that we had for this club.
“I don’t want you guys to give up, to accept defeat, to say, ‘No, it’s gone’. We’ve got a lot of trust in you.”