Ricky Zililo and Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporters
CAPS United finally revealed their strongest intentions yet of retracing their faded Cup Kings’ status by clinching the 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title with aplomb after an 11-year wait. Caps were known as Cup Kings in the 1980s and early 1990s, as they claimed trophy after trophy during that era. Things had not been rosy for them since they last won the league title in 2005, as season after season ended with Caps’ trophy cabinet gathering dust. The giant seems to have awoken with the 2016 PSL title, but can they maintain their renaissance in 2017? We assess each club’s performances during the 2016 season.
Caps United: The Harare giants ended an 11-year wait to claim the country’s PSL title. It was a perfect start for new owner Farai Jere, who took over Twine Phiri’s stake at the beginning of the year. A plus for Jere in turning around the fortunes of the Green Machine is that he kept faith in the technical team headed by Lloyd Chitembwe, who led them to the title. Chitembwe joined the elite class of coaches — Rahman Gumbo, Moses Chunga and Sunday Chidzambwa — who’ve won the championship as a player and coach. Caps United finished the 2015 season in fifth position, but won the 2016 league title in style, without losing a match at home. They registered 10 home wins and five draws. They suffered just three defeats, 1-3 to Bulawayo City, 0-1 to Highlanders and 1-2 against How Mine. All losses were suffered in Bulawayo. Caps played as a unit and fought to the last whistle. They showed character when the going got tough, like they did in notching a dramatic last minute winner in Week 25 to beat How Mine 3-2 at the National Sports Stadium. In Week 27, they staged a dramatic comeback to force a 3-3 draw with Dynamos. Caps were trailing 3-0 in the 85th minute, but managed to score three goals inside eight minutes. Utility player and captain Hardlife Zvirekwi deservedly won the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year accolade, with his teammates Ronald Pfumbidzai and Leonard Tsipa also making it onto the Soccer Stars list. Tsipa also bagged the league’s Golden Boot award for his 11 goals.
FC Platinum: The Zvishavane side blew a golden opportunity to win their maiden league title having led the table for the better part of the season. A terrible second half of the season, which saw them registering seven draws against Hwange, Caps United, relegated Mutare City, Chicken Inn, ZPC Kariba, Border Strikers and Ngezi Platinum Stars, as well as the 1-2 loss to Harare City cost them the title. Norman Mapeza’s lads only registered seven wins out 15 in the second half of the season, compared to nine wins in the first half. Mapeza tinkered with the team a lot in the second half of the season and those roped in failed to make an immediate impact. Mid-season buys Charles Sibanda, Makai Kawashu and William Stima struggled to settle in. Sibanda picked form in later stages while Stima made cameo appearances from the bench alongside Kawashu, who deserves the club’s flop of the season award. The team always struggled without the services of defensive midfielder Winston Mhango. The league’s Goalkeeper of the Season Petros Mhari, Soccer Star of the Year finalist Mhango, the Moyo twin defenders Elvis and Kevin as well as wingers Walter Musona and Marshal Mudehwe were vital to their campaign. They also had the best defence in the league, conceding 15.
Highlanders: The country’s oldest football club was seemingly overawed by the euphoria surrounding its 90th anniversary. Having threatened to run away with the league title at one point, Bosso’s major achievement in 2016 ended up just being able to break the nine-year jinx against Dynamos, whom they beat home and away. Dutch coach Erol Akbay, who joined Bosso before the start of the season, became a fans’ darling for masterminding the two victories over the old enemy. Bosso beat DeMbare 2-0 at Rufaro and 2-1 at Barbourfields. Their lack of depth was exposed in the closing stages of the season and their average players probably deserve a pat on the back for securing a third place finish. The departure of midfielder Bruce Kangwa and Knox Mutizwa during the mid-season break affected the team, as Bosso went through a dry spell, picking a single point from a possible 15. Bosso managed to introduce a number of youngsters like striker Prince Dube, midfielders Brian Banda and Adrian Silla, left-back Bukhosi Ncube and defender Nkosana Ndlovu to the first team. Peter Muduhwa (23), who was voted among the Soccer Stars of the Year finalists, and Tendai Ndlovu formed a formidable central defensive partnership. Bosso exhibited some good passing football and relied on counterattacks, but their failure to convert scoring opportunities let them down. They need a good striker to complement Dube and the ageing Ralph Matema. They also need cover for goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
Chicken Inn: The 2015 champions were pre-season favourites following their maiden Caf Champions League performances against South African giants and eventual winners Mamelodi Sundowns a scare in the preliminary stage. Chicken Inn beat Sundowns 1-0 at Barbourfields in the first leg, ending South Africans’ 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions. The Gamecocks lost the second leg 2-0 after Sundowns were awarded a controversial late penalty. The loss to Sundowns seemed to have had a huge toll on Chicken Inn, as they struggled in the domestic league soon after.
They lost head coach Joey Antipas to South African club AmaZulu and replaced him with Rahman Gumbo in May. The latter found the club in seventh place after seven rounds of matches, and he led them to a fourth place finish. Losing Antipas and skipper Danny Phiri to Golden Arrows, as well as the striking duo of Edmore Chirambadare and Mitchelle Katsvairo affected the Gamecocks. It also took the players too long to understand Gumbo’s style. Their strong finish was been a plus for Gumbo and they should return stronger in 2017.
Dynamos: The Harare giants suffered their worst finish in a decade, ending in fifth place. Dynamos won the league title in 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. They have been accustomed to finishing runners-up whenever they did not lift the title, but changes to their technical team in the last two years has not worked. DeMbare have had four coaches in the last two seasons, with David Mandigora taking over from Callisto Pasuwa before he was replaced by Tonderai Ndiraya midway through the 2015 season. At the beginning of 2016, Dynamos engaged relatively unknown Portuguese gaffer Paulo Jorge Silva, but he was shown the exit door after five games and Lloyd Mutasa took over the reins. Throughout the season, Dynamos were just unconvincing, with their players generally performing below par. It was difficult to spot an outstanding player in their squad and even the mid-season arrival of former Soccer Star of the Year Denver Mukamba failed to inspire them. Mutasa brought in youngsters like Peace Makaha, Kudzanai Nyakasaka, King Nasama, Bret Amidu, Takunda Sadiki and Wisdom Mutasa, and made a number of experiments, changing players’ positions in a bid to get goals, but it didn’t work out. They managed a fifth place finish and it doesn’t look like the Dynamos leadership will retain him, as they have already branded the season a failure.
ZPC Kariba: The electricity generators finished in sixth place compared to 10th in 2015. Coached by former national team gaffer Sunday Chidzambwa, who is a firm believer in experienced players, it was not surprising to see a number of veteran players at ZPC Kariba. On paper, ZPC Kariba had a formidable side, one that could challenge for the title, but lack of coordination in their play saw them sliding away from the title contenders’ group. ZPC Kariba has resources to attract good players and Chidzambwa, whose contract has been extended, needs to bring in youngsters and gel them with experienced players. Youngsters can even push his seasoned players to raise their game.
Ngezi Platinum Stars: They had a fairytale debut Premiership season, winning the Chibuku Super Cup at the expense of favourites Highlanders and FC Platinum, whom they ousted from the tournament in the semi-finals and final. The platinum miners’ turning point was after Week 10 matches when they employed Tonderai Ndiraya as head coach, replacing Clifton Kadurira, who was reassigned as assistant coach. When Ndiraya joined Ngezi, they were in 13th place with eight points made up of two wins, two draws and six defeats. Ndiraya went on to lead them to an unbeaten run of eight matches. Ex-Free State Stars defender Liberty Chakoroma, former national team defender Patson Jaure, the midfield duo of Kelvin Bulaji and Walter Mukanga were brought in to shore up the team and the move paid wonders. The experienced recruits provided the much needed experience that made Ngezi a formidable side which enabled them to win the Chibuku Super Cup and the right to represent the country in the Caf Confederations Cup. They are busy in the transfer market strengthening their squad ahead of their continental assignment. They have reportedly signed Bulawayo City captain Xolisani Moyo, Tsholotsho FC utility player MacClive Phiri and Dominic Mukandi from Dynamos.
Border Strikers: Strikers anchored the league from the first match of the season up to the final 30th game and only managed four wins. Their most memorable win was the dismissal of old war horses Dynamos. They had the qualities to stay afloat, but claims of poor treatment of players by management, with reports that players lived in squalid conditions, did not help their cause. They also played the entire first half of the season away from home in Zvishavane, as their home ground, Dulivhadzimu Stadium, was deemed unfit for topflight games. Generally poor management has robbed Beitbridge of Premiership football in 2017.
Mutare City Rovers: Mutare City were also victims of management gaffes. The Manicaland outfit finished 15th with 26 points, the same number of points as 14th-placed Tsholotsho, who escaped the automatic chop. Mutare City were docked three points for using a suspended player, Kudakwashe Gurure, in a league match against FC Platinum in September. The docked points proved crucial, as they could have ended the season above Tsholotsho on 29 points. With the increasing reality that only two teams get the chop, Mutare City must surely be cursing their team manager for failing to keep such a vital statistic.
Tsholotsho: Despite possessing a talented and hungry crop of players in their ranks, Tsholotsho still found themselves having to wait for the last day of the season to know their fate, just like they did in their debut season in 2015. There is need to build the promised stadium in Tsholotsho to cut down on expenses. Like Border Strikers, Tsholotsho are of no fixed abode. Their technical bench is also too thin and inexperienced. Head coach Lizwe Sweswe has gained some experience, but he must not be treated like a paramount Tsholotsho FC coach. He has done his part by bringing the team to the PSL and ensuring its survival, but many believe it’s time he moved on. It’s time the club tried new technical brains for Iziqholo zeZhwane to avoid waiting for the last day to know their fate.
Chapungu: Inconsistency at home and on the road was their biggest undoing and it’s pure luck that they escaped automatic relegation. Ascot Stadium used to be their fortress, but it was not the case this past. Maybe claims of differences between the technical department and management, which surfaced during the season, affected their performances. There is still the unexplained and sudden resignation of coach John Nyikadzino after the last game of the season against Caps United.
Hwange: Liquidity problems affecting parent company Hwange Colliery Company affected team performance, as players were extremely demotivated, as they went for long spells without being paid. The players soldiered on for the love of the game and deserve to be praised for their attitude. They staged a sit-in towards the end of the season and the team is set to lose a number of players. Newman Sianchali was released and is now set to join either Highlanders or Bulawayo City. Chipangano also suffered the fate of having their head coach Nation Dube banned from all football activities for a period of five years over alleged match fixing. He has since been acquitted and now waits to see if he will be allowed to resume his duties at the club. Despite the struggles, Hwange managed to have Gift Mbweti among the prestigious Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Stars of the Year.
Triangle United: The target was a top four finish at the beginning of the season, with the league title a bonus, but the Lowveld side couldn’t even make the top eight. In fact, they ended up fighting to survive relegation. It was no surprise when the club parted ways with head coach David Mandigora, who humbly admitted failure. The club had tested the sweetness of a top four finish under Kelvin Kaindu in 2015 and felt it was possible to achieve the same feat.
How Mine: It is hard to find anything good or bad that Kelvin Kaindu did at How Mine, except being named the Most Disciplined team in the league and a cheque of $10 000. The Zambian also became the first How Mine coach to start and finish the season at the club, as it is notorious for firing coaches. Kaindu though must not count his luck next season and the first few games are sure to determine his future with the gold miners.
Harare City: They were probably the most disappointing club in the just ended season. Harare City had the budget and good pre-season preparations, as they participated in the Caf Confederations Cup. But when the season started, things just fell apart. The then coach Taurayi Mangwiro, now the Zifa technical director, failed to come up with a winning formula. He had the players, the budget, but the results were not coming. The club parted ways with him and brought in legendary Moses Chunga, who came with his own philosophy that saw veteran players sidelined in favour of youngsters. Wrong move! There was no consistency, which irked the club’s followers. Chunga’s contract was not renewed and assistant coach Mkhuphali Masuku has been elevated to the hot seat for 2017.
Bulawayo City: They were in the limelight for the wrong reasons following match fixing allegations involving their game against Border Strikers.
They were also caught up in an age-cheating storm. The PSL’s disciplinary committee slapped City’s assistant coach Farai Mujokoro and kit manager Gift Mvala with five-year bans for allegedly attempting to fix the match between City and Border Strikers in August. The case went on to claim the scalp of head coach Philani Ncube and chairman Jerry Sibanda, who were suspended by Zifa. Prior to the Zifa suspension the club had suspended Ncube and goalkeepers’ coach Reggy Buhali. In the age-cheating storm, City were handed a $2 500 fine by the PSL for knowingly supplying wrong information, while the concerned players Dean Sibanda, Lewis Ncube and Bothwell Nyathi were slapped with 12-month suspensions. Away from the scandals, on the field of play, they had a number of good performances. Lewis Ncube was one of their outstanding players before reports of him using doctored documents emanated. They were one of three clubs to beat champions Caps United, handing them a 3-1 beating at Barbourfields Stadium. The midfield trio of skipper Xolisani Moyo, Sipho Ndlovu and Kelvin Madzongwe, striker Trevor Ndlovu and Zibusiso Sibanda had a good season for City. But they need a prolific striker to make an impact in the PSL.