Robson Sharuko
Editor
FOR the first time, in the 50 years that CAPS United have been in existence, the Green Machine can boast of producing a coach who guided another club to the domestic Premiership title.
And, finally, Lloyd Chitembwe has company, on the podium of champions, when it comes to coaches from the Makepekepe family who have steered a club to the championship.
Takesure “Deco” Chiragwi joined Chitembwe on that podium on Saturday when he led Ngezi Platinum Stars to the domestic top-flight league title.
Until his success story, Chitembwe was the only man standing, among CAPS United sons, with the honour of having guided a club to the grand prize in the local Premiership.
His finest hour came in 2016 when he made history as the first CAPS United son to guide a club to the Holy Grail in local football.
He also remains the only CAPS United son to lead the Green Machine into the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
On Saturday, Chiragwi became the first CAPS United son to lead another club to the league championship.
It’s a landmark success story for the Green Machine family who, for years, have seen Dynamos sons write success stories as coaches at clubs here at home in other countries on the continent.
Somehow, for years, the CAPS United sons have struggled to make it as coaches and, in the late ‘80s, the club had to deal with the humiliation of being guided by one of the greatest Dynamos sons of all-time, Sunday Chidzambwa.
Even the coach who lead them to their maiden league championship, in 1979, the late Ashton “Papa” Nyazika, had some old DeMbare links.
That great Green Machine side lost just one match all season, a 1-2 loss at the hands of Black Aces.
Nyazika had a spell as a Dynamos Under-18 player, before embarking on a coaching adventure in which he would distinguish himself as one of the best local coaches.
Another former DeMbare son, Steve “The Dude” Kwashi would lead CAPS United to their second league title in 1996.
The success stories in 2004 and 2005 would be written by Charles Mhlauri, a recruit from Bulawayo.
Chitembwe became the first CAPS United son to lead the Green Machine to glory in 2016.
Now, Chiragwi is celebrating his finest hour.
There will be some, within the CAPS United camp, who will feel this was the young coach, from their stable, whom they have been waiting for all along.