Caps United refute Mkhuphali Masuku dismissal report

EVENTS at Caps United took a new twist yesterday with the club saying Mkhuphali Masuku had been asked to revert to the post of assistant coach.

Masuku who has been acting head coach since the banning of Taurayi Mangwiro had signed a six-month contract with the club in July last year.

He started pre-season training last month as head coach though he was yet to pen a new contract with the club.

Yesterday, the club said he would be reverting to his old post with a substantive head coach believed to be on the way.

Club president Twine Phiri was due to meet  Masuku last night in the capital to discuss the way forward in terms of the former Bosso gaffer's new role.

Reports coming from the capital indicated that Makepekepe wielded the axe on the coach, hours after showing the door to seven senior players who had boycotted training protesting against non-payment of salaries earlier this week.

Seven players were, earlier this week given the boot for striking and these players are Nqobile Mpala, Asani Nhongo, Tendai Samanja, Itayi Chiwara, Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Leonard Fiyado and Hardlife Zvirekwi.

Mpala has since retraced his roots to Highlanders while Pakamisa is reportedly on his way to cross-town rivals Dynamos.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport on Wednesday night, the green half of the capital's chief executive officer Joe Makuvire said Masuku was never their head coach but had been asked to act in that position following the life ban imposed on head coach Taurai Mangwiro over the Asiagate scandal.

Makuvire said Masuku had since returned to his substantive assistant coach role.

"It's not true at all that Masuku has been fired. He was not even involved in the strike that rocked our club but what we have done is that we have advertised the head coach position and Masuku is also free to apply for it," said Makuvire.

He said the club expects to have identified a suitable candidate by 1 March.

However, Masuku had a different version of events as he insisted that he had indeed parted ways with Makepekepe.

Meanwhile, Caps United director Twine Phiri said the club will never collapse as feared by a large section of the Makepekepe family due to the latest turmoil to rock his club. "I don't buy that at all, we want to change things at this club so that we have a competitive side. Caps United is a big brand and over the last couple of years we have been buying big names like Shingi Kawondera, Evans Gwekwerere but still finish the season well off the leading pack," said Phiri.

He said he has been having problems with the so-called big names who now and again will hold the club at ransom.

"These are the robust changes that I have been talking about. You cannot expect God to come down and change things for us, no, I am in charge at Caps United and therefore have to make such changes no matter how painful it might be to some people, it's all for the good of my team," said Phiri.

He said the new players that he has recruited would carry the day for Caps and he would give them all the support that they need so as to once again illuminate the Makepekepe brand.

In January, Caps United held trials for aspiring new players in the coal mining town of Hwange although it is believed none of the boys there made the grade.