CAPS United F.C.
 | ||
| Full name | Central African Pharmaceutical Society United Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Makepekepe, Green Machine, Kepekepe Bhora | |
| Founded | 1973 | |
| Ground | National Sports Stadium (Zimbabwe), Harare | |
| Capacity | 60,000 | |
| Chairman | Lewis Uriri | |
| Manager | Lloyd Chitembwe | |
| League | CBZ Premier Soccer League | |
| 2013 | ZPSL, 5th | |
|
| ||
CAPS United F.C. is a Zimbabwean football club based in Harare. Formed in 1973, the team rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s when it was home to some of the finest ever Zimbabwean players. These include the late Shacky "Mr. Goals" Tauro, the late Stanley "Sinyo" Ndunduma, the late Joel "Jubilee" Shambo, Stanford "Stix" Mtizwa, Friday "Breakdown" Phiri, Clever Muzuva, Size Torindo and Brenna Msiska. During this period, CAPS United got the nickname "Cup Kings" as it virtually monopolised championship knockout tournaments like Chibuku Trophy, Roseball Charity Shield and the Independence Trophy. Its avid fans nicknamed it "Makepekepe".
History
The creation of Black Rhinos, bankrolled by the Zimbabwe Defense Forces in mid-1980s, nearly sank the CAPS United ship as almost all of their cream players joined the army side because of its financial potency. However, CAPS United soldiered on and would still claim some knockout tournaments with such players like Abdul Karim, Carlos "Murehwa" Marx, Tobias Sibanda, Never "Maswera Sei" Chiku, Eddie Muchongwe, Silver "Bonzo" Chigwenje, Maxwell Cheche Biliart and Basil "Bhashi" Chisopo, Kudzanai "Kau Kau" Taruvinga, CAPS United virtually swept all before it, powering to an inevitable glory. According to Robson Sharuko, a Zimbabwean sports journalist, that was the “finest attacking team ever assembled in the 1990s” in Zimbabwe.
A bad patch came to haunt the club in the late 1990s when it was almost relegated to Division One League football because of financial constraints faced by their sponsors, CAPS Holdings Limited. A host of players left for greener pastures to either South Africa or Europe. The sponsors decided to sell the CAPS United franchise to a hitherto little known soft-spoken Harare businessman Twine Phiri. Although he struggled in the early days of running the club, Phiri remained determined to transform the club into a force to reckon with and immediately turned the club into a professional outfit. His efforts were rewarded in 2004 when the team won the Championship for the third time in its history. With Charles Mhlauri as the head coach, the team had such star players like Cephas Chimedza, Lloyd "Lodza" Chitembwe, Leonard "Aghahohwa" Tsipa, Brian "Marcopolo" Badza, Raymond Undi, Ashley Rambanapasi, Blessing "Yogo-Yogo" Makunike and the Zambian duo of Laughter Chilembe and Ian Bakala.
Nickname
The team's fans christened the club "The Green Machine" because of its colours and were regarded in the Zimbabwe Media as a threat to vegetation as they would cut tree branches to use as regalia in supporting their team. Despite losing other star players like the late Blessing "Yogo-Yogo" Makunike (accident), Artwell Mabhiza, David Sengu and Raymond Undi who migrated to England in 2005, the team went on to retain the Championship the same year, with a Malawi international midfielder Joseph Kamwendo shining the whole season.
CAPS United always remains a threat to other traditional heavyweights Highlanders and Dynamos who are its major rivals.
Contribution to the Zimbabwe Warriors
CAPS United has had several of their coaches coaching the national teams; Charles Mhlauri is the most notable one who went on to qualify for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt and won Cosafa Cup 2005. He won a Treble in 2004. Another notable coach is Steve Kwashi who did well with the Zimbabwe junior national team.
Several players from CAPS United have played for the Zimbabwe National team. The list includes Solomon Kaseke, The late Misheck 'Zuda' Nelson, Brenna Msiska, Abdul Karim, Energy Murambadoro (goalkeepers), Shacky Tauro, Stanford Mtizwa, Joel "The Headmaster" Shambo, Friday "Amayenge" Phiri, Charlie Jones, Carlos Marx, Dumisani Mpofu, Edelbert Dinha, Lloyd Chitembwe, Charles Yohanne, Morgan Nkatazo, Mpumelelo "Era Muna" Dzowa, Leonard "Aghahowa" Tsipa, Blessing "Yogo Yogo" Makunike, Alois Bunjira, Cephas Chimedza, Raymond "Left Drive" Undi, David Sengu and Brian "Marcopolo" Badza. CAPS United has also had other international players like Ian Bakala, Laughter Chilembe (Zambia), Joseph Kamwendo, Hadji Tambala (Malawi).
The Green Machine led the soccer revolution through acquiring professional players from neighbouring countries as well as making strategic partnerships with European countries like Belgium. The club helped transform the Zimbabwean football with the introduction of Caps academy the brain child of their most successful coach Charles Mhlauri. This helped bridge the gap and develop a lot of juniors to eventually play for the senior team. The most successful products of this academy are Lionel 'Stix' Mtizwa, Oscar Machapa, Washington Pakamisa, Tsungi Mudzamiri, Tichaona Nyenda, Takesure Chiragwi, Charles Manjera, Danger Fourpence, Matthew Tafiremutsa and Musset Zengeni most of whom went on to represent the country at junior and senior Zimbabwe national team.
However, the club had an unforgettable cruise in the African safari after it was suspended for 3 years from the African Champions League in 2006 after using an unregistered player.
On 30 August 2010; Lloyd Chitembwe's 20-month stint as CAPS United's head coach ended when he left the Green Machine yesterday after his contract was terminated by mutual consent, following a poor run of results that has torched a rebellion among the club's fans.[1]
On 12 January 2012 Sean Connor[2] was appointed manager, the Northern Irishman had previously managed Sligo Rovers, Bohemians and Galway United in the League of Ireland, leading Galway United on the worst season in their history with a record run of defeats[3] and relegation to the League of Ireland First Division (though the club withdrew from the league before they could take their place).
Management
- Manager:
Freddy Mukwesha - Assistant Manager: Stephen Kwashi
- Assistant Manager: Brenna "Baba Gari" Msiska
Honours
- CBZ Cup: 1
- 2008
- ABC Super8 Challenge: 1
- 2008
- 1979, 1996, 2004, 2005
- 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1992, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2008
- 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997
- Zimbabwean Charity Shield: 1
- 1996
- Defence Forces Charity Shield: 1
- 2013
- Zambezi Challenge Cup - Malawi: 1
- 2014
Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Champions League: 3 appearances
- CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances
- CAF Cup: 3 appearances
- CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 4 appearances
Current squad
[4][5] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Notable players
The players listed represented their nation at international level.
|
|
|
Managers
- Rahman Gumbo (2002–03)
Fewdays Musonda (2003)- Charles Mhlauri (2004–05)
- Lloyd Chitembwe (2008–10)
- Moses Chunga (2010–11)
Sean Connor (2012)- Mkhuphali "Mike" Masuku (2012)
- Taurai Mangwiro (2013–14)
Mark Harrison (2015–)- Lloyd Chitembwe (2015–)
References
- ↑ http://www1.chronicle.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=11646&cat=5
- ↑ CAPS United to unveil Irishman as new coach — Nehanda Radio
- ↑ Relegation brings end to disastrous season for United | Galway City Tribune | galwaynews.ie
- ↑ "Caps United FC". FootballZone. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ↑ Mashava, Dakarai (16 March 2012). "CAPS Utd name squad". Daily News. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
External links
- Caps United News Website : www.capsutd.com
- Facebook Website
| ||||||