CAPS United remember late trio
EXACTLY 20 years ago, tragedy hit Premier Soccer League giants CAPS United, who lost three players to a horrific accident that occurred some few kilometres outside Norton.
Blessing “Yogo Yogo” Makunike, Shingirayi Arlon, and Gary Mashoko, together with two CAPS United supporters perished on March 13, 2004, when the car they were travelling in hit the pillar of a bridge and caught fire.
They were driving from Bulawayo where CAPS United had played against Njube Sundowns.
Although Makepekepe went on to win the league title that year, their second since Independence and one that they dedicated to the late trio, the pain of losing their key players in such fashion has never faded away.
Up to now, the Harare giants still honour the departed trio.
Makepekepe will use the FIFA international break, which runs from March 18-26, to visit their graves and also buy groceries for their families, as has become a ritual since 2005.
Makunike, who died at the age of 27, was buried at Yeovil Cemetery in Mutare while Arlon and Mashoko’s remains were interred at Granville, popularly known as KuMbudzi in Harare.
Makunike was arguably the most popular amongst the three, as he was a gifted midfielder who debuted for CAPS United as a teenager in 1997.
He won the BP League Cup in 1997 and 1998 before briefly moving to Europe where he played for FK Javor Ivanjica of Serbia in 2002.
In Serbia, Makunike played alongside fellow Zimbabweans Mike Temwanjira and Leonard Tsipa.
Makunike returned to CAPS United in 2003 and died the following year.
“We are collaborating with our fans to visit the graveyard (Makunike’s), and also to visit the family of the late footballer.
“We always visit them and given that this is the 20th anniversary, we will do the same and also assist with groceries.
“This has been the way of celebrating the life he lived and the legacy he left,” CAPS United administrator, Morton Dodzo, said.
CAPS United would have wanted to commemorate the late trio today but because of a busy work schedule, the programme has been shifted to next weekend.
“Remember Blessing (Makunike) passed on with Gary Mashoko and Shingi Twaliki Arlon, so we also have to do a similar arrangement.
“So, to accommodate every CAPS United member who wants to be involved, we need a free weekend.” Mashoko was a promising left-back at the time of his death while Arlon was already a proven goal-poacher having featured for Makepekepe in the late 1990s.
In 2004, the trio became key figures at CAPS United and assembled a powerful squad under Charles Mhlauri.
Some of the players who starred for the Harare giants during that trailblazing season, in which CAPS United also won the Buddie Cup, included the Zambian duo of Ian Bakala and Laughter Chilembe.
David Sengu, Cephas Chimedza, Tichaona Nyenda, Lloyd Chitembwe, Artwell Mabhiza, Raymond Undi, Brian Badza, Silent Katumba and Tsipa.