Chiwunga to continue revival at CAPS Utd
LOT Chiwunga was about to start a new venture in panel beating as he thought he was done playing the game when he got an invitation from his former club Black Rhinos via a phone call in June last year.
The 37-year-old, who has been unfortunate with injuries, having broken his right leg three times over the past 10 years, had made up his mind to leave professional football after failing to find suitors following his departure from Eastern Region Division One side Mutare City at the end of 2022.
He was already sustaining his family through vending while playing social football during weekends.
But with Black Rhinos enduring an acute goal drought, the team’s chief security officer Edward Dube, a member of the trailblazing 1984 ‘Rhinos team, advised the club coach Saul Chaminuka to look for Chiwunga.
Both Dube and Chaminuka weren’t sure whether the forward still had the bite that made him a household name at the Zimbabwe National Army’s flagship team.
Once he confirmed his availability, a practice match against lower division side ZRP Morris was quickly put together specifically to assess him.
He didn’t disappoint as he weighed in with a goal and an assist after coming on as a second-half substitute.
“I was quickly registered by Black Rhinos as it was still in the mid-season. I had some fitness issues as I was playing football at a social level during weekends only.
“Then I challenged myself to start working hard. I was training thrice more than the rest of the team I think as I was running 10km every morning before going to our training sessions,” said Chiwunga.
“I was quickly thrown into the team and I gelled in. The team was rock bottom and it was always going to be very difficult for us to survive the chop”.
Black Rhinos suddenly moved out of their shell and were one of the best performers in the second half of the season.
Although Chiwunga did score seven goals and provided as many assists, that was too little too late as the soldiers had dropped too many points in the opening phase of the marathon.
The swift striker started to attract a lot of interest with Simba Bhora, Dynamos, Herentals, and CAPS United all making contact.
The former Douglas Warriors man chose to sign for Makepekepe and he wants to turn around the Green Machine’s fortunes.
“I am very happy being at CAPS United. I believe this is a perfect platform for me to flourish. I am here to score goals and let those goals help CAPS United achieve their set targets.
“I am very happy with the reception that I got when I arrived at CAPS United.
So far so good. The operating environment is very good.
“The love is just second to none. I have to work extra hard than what I did last year. But I will always be grateful to Edward Dube who thought about me when I was already considering my future outside football.
“I am not going to disappoint. I want to score more goals and if I can, also win the Golden Boot and perhaps make it in the Soccer Stars calendar”.
Chiwunga has since been praised by CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe because of his attitude.
“In terms of attitude, well, I can safely say he is the best player I have coached. His mentality is good and he is such a marvel to work with,” said Chitembwe.
“I know he will give us a lot given he is also very experienced. I want to be honest, he is a player that you find very difficult not to get along with due to his discipline and focus.”