Poised to shine:
CAPS United fans have been calling him their Zlatan Ibrahimovic and, at the ripe age of 35, Leonard Tsipa could turn himself into the most decorated league championship winner at the Green Machine if he powers them to a successful defence of their title this year. Interestingly, Makepekepe used to be known as the Manchester Road Boys back in the years when the club was owned by the pharmaceutical giant in Southerton.
The ageless forward, who turned 35 on January 25 this year, was born just two months after the Swedish superstar who has made a huge impression in his first season in the English Premiership where he has been the star performer at Manchester United.
Ibrahimovic, who has won major titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France during a glittering career in which he has established himself as one of the finest footballers of his generation, is set to extend his stay at Old Trafford after revealing he is in talks to spend another year at the Red Devils.
And CAPS United fans, who have watched Tsipa match Lloyd Chitembwe as the most decorated Green Machine player — when it comes to league championship titles — believe their ageless forward could make a similar big impact for their club this season as the Harare giants go out in defence of their title.
Tsipa was one of, if not the best player, at CAPS United last season as the Green Machine ended 11 years of waiting for the league championship.
He won the Premiership’s Golden Boot and finished as the runner-up in the race for the Castle Soccer Stars of the Year to his teammate Hardlife Zvirekwi. Tsipa has also turned into the CAPS United lucky man.
Every time he finishes as the country’s Golden Boot winner or the top goal-scorer at the Green Machine, the Harare giants go on to be crowned champions.
He won the Golden Boot in 2004 with 18 goals and powered Makepekepe to their first league title in eight years, scoring one of the two goals as they beat Dynamos 2-1 in the Harare Derby that season and also scoring twice at Barbourfields, including the last-gasp equaliser,
in the 3-3 draw against Highlanders.
Tsipa was also on target against Bosso in Harare as the Green Machine lost 3-4, the only game they lost all season.
The striker was his club’s top goalscorer, with 13 goals, the following year — in a season in which the Golden Boot went to Edmore Mufema with 17 goals — as the Green Machine defended their league title.
And last year he was again the Golden Boot winner as Makepekepe won the league championship.
If he helps his club win the league title this year, Tsipa would have collected four league winners medals and transformed himself as the most decorated CAPS United player of all-time.
Yesterday, he said he still believes he has two years to play before hanging up his boots.
“As a player you should always write history especially if playing for a top club like CAPS United,” he told The Herald.
“My job is to score goals. But it is not about me as an individual, but it is team work. Yes, records will have it that I scored 18 goals in 2004, but it was team work and will always be that.
“Even if I am to retire today, the club will maintain the momentum and keep winning titles.’’
He believes discipline has helped him to achieve all this.
“I believe it starts at home. If you are in a stable marriage, without marital problems, you are bound to concentrate and focus.
“I believe your partner plays an important role in your career. As players, at times we lose it, I am not saying it’s bad to enjoy night life, but we sometimes let it get out of hand, so your partner is there to guide you.
“Leaving drugs and other stuff I was doing before, also helped me a lot,” said Tsipa.
Tsipa said he used to set personal targets when he was still young.
“I used to give myself targets, but with age no longer on my side, I am just enjoying my football, scoring goals and helping the club to win.’’
Back in 2004, then under the guidance of Charles Mhlauri, the striker formed a formidable partnership with Brian Badza.
But Tsipa says he can do wonders with any player he is partnered with.
“I am comfortable with whoever I am playing with upfront. Last year was my most memorable season. When I came back, people said I was spent force, but the coach kept pushing me, telling me that age is just a number. The way he managed me played a big role in how I performed the whole season.
“Definitely, considering my age, you would definitely have pressure. But that is what motivated me the most. I wanted to prove that I am still the same player,” he said.
The striker claims he is one of the few players who never altered their age.
“I was born on 25 January, 1982. I never altered my age and that is my real age. I believe I am one of the oldest players in the Premiership at the moment because some of these players altered their ages and they still appear young on paper. I know them, but I will not mention them by names,” said Tsipa.
And, for Tsipa, the best CAPS forward of his era is Nyasha Mushekwi.
“He used to score goals willy-nilly. He was just a goal poacher. Coming from a basketball background and scoring those goals, he proved many people wrong and I consider him as one of the best CAPS United players,” said Tsipa.