Lloyd Chitembwe made history on Saturday by becoming the first Caps United legend to win the league championship both as a player and coach.
By Elia Ntali
In a season that had a turbulence in which players threatened and even boycotted training no-one would have thought that Chitembwe’s men would claim the league title, their first since the all conquering Makepekepe of 2005 in which Chitembwe was part of.
With some of the experienced players in their side United proved that they were destined for success when they produced dramatic comebacks at the National Sports Stadium.
They played against How Mine at the giant stadium and they took a 2-0 lead against the gold miners only to falter in the later stages of the match when How Mine restored parity and with the match seemingly headed for a draw Dominic Chungwa scored with virtually the last kick of the match to claim maximum points for the Champions.
Fans had already started to trickle out of the stadium and the match ended 3-2, more was to follow as they faced old foes Dynamos at the same venue.
It was a match in which both sides would not want to lose and with 17 minutes on the clock Dembare took the lead courtesy of Rodreck Mutuma and by the time the clock hit 85 minutes it was 3-0 and just like in the match against How Mine, some Caps United fans had conceded defeat as they left their seats for the exit gates.
Yes it was a dramatic display by the Green Machine as they forced a draw against the former champions, 3-3 it ended. Such is the tenacity of true champions and they never lost a match at home only losing three on the road.
On Saturday they went to Gweru for a tricky assignment against Chapungu a side that sometimes gave them headaches but with only two minutes into the match they took the lead and they hanged on until the last minute when the referee blew the final whistle.
Caps united fans scaled the perimeter fence around Ascot Stadium to celebrate with their heroes and no one should begrudge them- it was a moment they deserved as eleven years is just a long time.
