IT’S not everyday that a player gets public praise from Lloyd Chitembwe. The CAPS United coach is a strict disciplinarian who is also hard to please.
But, the championship winning gaffer has been blown away by an unheralded attacking midfielder who is training with the Harare giants.
Nyasha Muganhu was discovered at the annual KB Kanyongo Football tournament which is held annually in Mutoko and is now trying to impress at CAPS United. The KB Kanyongo tournament is sponsored by Gideon Kanyongo who was born and raised in Mutoko but is now based in the United States.
Muganhu has been training with the Green Machine and it looks like the 24-year-old attacking linkman has charmed Chitembwe.
The CAPS United gaffer feels Muganhu has “all the football basics. “He is good, he has talent but it’s a matter of him continuing to work hard,” Chitembwe told the Daily News.
Chitembwe is finalising his squad, having also added a couple of experienced players in January like Godknows Murwira, Kelvin Madzongwe and Adrian Silla.
The 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title winner experienced a tough season last year, as his financially crippled side fought against relegation.
Things are lightening up at Makepekepe who have also retained a number of key players including Devon Chafa, Phineas Bamusi, Rodwell Chinyengetere and goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga. There are also a number of unknown players who are also eager to impress Chitembwe. And Mutoko bred Muganhu is one of them.
Chitembwe said of Muganhu: “Personal progress is key, just having a talent is not enough for a player but there is need for him to continue working hard. “He has all the football basics in him, he has good talent and he understands a lot of things about football.”
Chitembwe actually thinks Muganhu has the potential of becoming one of the best players in the country, “only if he is to remain grounded and hard working.”
Added Chitembwe: “Because players tend to have distractions along the way but if he keep his form, he will go places, because the talent is there. “Breakthrough is not only determined but what he is doing now but he needs to have continuous progress for him to reach his full potential. It’s a matter of him continuing to have the desire to improve and develop as player because at the moment he has all the football basics.”
CAPS United last won the league title in 2016 under Chitembwe. They had a forgettable campaign last season as the club experienced serious financial problems that led to continuous player strikes.