Sports / Soccer
Top flight football returns to Gweru
13 Oct 2013 at 06:43hrs | Views
After five years of toiling in the less fashionable Division One league, Air Force of Zimbabwe side Chapungu Football Club have bounced back into elite football in style as premiership football returns to the Midlands city of Gweru.
Waru Waru, as Chapungu are affectionately known, won the Central Region Division One's sole ticket last weekend with five games to spare after beating fellow soldiers Tongogara 4-2 whilst their closest rivals, Town United, lost 1-0 to Vumbachikwe.
Chapungu lead Town United with 10 points but the John Nyikadzino-led side are guaranteed another six points as their remaining fixtures include dates against expelled Gwanda Ramblers and Kwekwe Stars, giving them an unassailable lead and a safe passage into elite football.
Inspired by the Murisa twins, Ngonidzashe and Charles, Chapungu have just written their own piece of history in the Central Region as they have lost only once in 25 games and the mood in the Midlands capital is upbeat.
The return of Chapungu, a household name in its own right, has brought back smiles to the people of Gweru, who despite being resident in the provincial capital, had no top-flight league action following the relegation of Hardbody last year.
It could also mean an upward review of their US$52 000 sponsorship deal from financial institution BancABC who hinted during the partnership launch that they would revise the package once Chapungu gained promotion.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, the Murisa twins attributed their team's success to a unity of purpose and the desire to emulate their brother - Stewart - who dazzled the local premiership with his bagful of skills in the '90s.
"Having a big brother like Stewart who went all the way and was at one time the country's Soccer Star of the Year has inspired us a lot.
"He has been very supportive of our career and has been coming to watch us in action ever since he returned from South Africa. We are aware of the huge task that lies ahead of us as people would want to compare us with Shutto but we will try our best," said Ngonidzashe, who plays as an attacking linkman and has banged in eight goals so far this season.
Charles, a right back, believes their short stints with former Premiership sides Douglas Warriors and Zimbabwe Saints will help them ease into the system.
"We had a stint with Douglas Warriors in 2010 when they were promoted into the top flight and we also played for Saints in 2011, so I am sure that experience will come in handy.
"We have unity of purpose at Chapungu and it is the fighting spirit that kept us going throughout the season," he said.
Football returns to Ascot Stadium as the local fans yearn for the days when Chapungu used to be a force in the Premier Soccer League.
The Air Force side churned out an array of stars like the Muteji twins (Cain and Abel), Nkulumo "Daidzai Vamwe" Donga, 2002 Soccer Star of the Year Maxwell "MaRhino" Dube, Clement Mugari, Gary Mkandawire, Wellington Shangiwa and prolific finisher Philip Marufu, who is now at army side Black Rhinos.
Chapungu also brought to the fore exciting players like Warriors international striker and Mamelodi Sundowns gunman Cuthbert Malajila, who went on to play for giants Dynamos and Highlanders before sealing a lucrative move to South Africa.
They even represented the country in the then Caf African Winners Cup (now Caf Confederations Cup) in 1996, but were a bit unlucky as they were knocked out in the first round by Young Africans of Tanzania.
Chapungu coach Nyikadzino, who holds a Caf B Licence, is confident the talent he has in his ranks will rekindle the "Chapungu spirit of old."
"We had been in the wilderness for long and we thank God for guiding us back into the top-flight league. We were united from day one of the season and the supporters were fantastic.
"We have a number of youngsters who I tip to shine in the Premiership and people should brace themselves for more surprises from Chapungu," said Nyikadzino.
Apart from the Murisa twins, Nyikadzino banked on the talented Midlands State University student, Farai Manase, whose ball artistry in the middle of the park won him many admirers while steady centre-back, Tichaona Muyengeni provided cover.
Nyikadzino joined the team in the second half of last year's campaign and guided Chapungu to second position behind promoted Tripple B.
But this year, there was no grounding the airmen, who are back in the sky - flying high.
Waru Waru, as Chapungu are affectionately known, won the Central Region Division One's sole ticket last weekend with five games to spare after beating fellow soldiers Tongogara 4-2 whilst their closest rivals, Town United, lost 1-0 to Vumbachikwe.
Chapungu lead Town United with 10 points but the John Nyikadzino-led side are guaranteed another six points as their remaining fixtures include dates against expelled Gwanda Ramblers and Kwekwe Stars, giving them an unassailable lead and a safe passage into elite football.
Inspired by the Murisa twins, Ngonidzashe and Charles, Chapungu have just written their own piece of history in the Central Region as they have lost only once in 25 games and the mood in the Midlands capital is upbeat.
The return of Chapungu, a household name in its own right, has brought back smiles to the people of Gweru, who despite being resident in the provincial capital, had no top-flight league action following the relegation of Hardbody last year.
It could also mean an upward review of their US$52 000 sponsorship deal from financial institution BancABC who hinted during the partnership launch that they would revise the package once Chapungu gained promotion.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, the Murisa twins attributed their team's success to a unity of purpose and the desire to emulate their brother - Stewart - who dazzled the local premiership with his bagful of skills in the '90s.
"Having a big brother like Stewart who went all the way and was at one time the country's Soccer Star of the Year has inspired us a lot.
"He has been very supportive of our career and has been coming to watch us in action ever since he returned from South Africa. We are aware of the huge task that lies ahead of us as people would want to compare us with Shutto but we will try our best," said Ngonidzashe, who plays as an attacking linkman and has banged in eight goals so far this season.
Charles, a right back, believes their short stints with former Premiership sides Douglas Warriors and Zimbabwe Saints will help them ease into the system.
"We had a stint with Douglas Warriors in 2010 when they were promoted into the top flight and we also played for Saints in 2011, so I am sure that experience will come in handy.
"We have unity of purpose at Chapungu and it is the fighting spirit that kept us going throughout the season," he said.
Football returns to Ascot Stadium as the local fans yearn for the days when Chapungu used to be a force in the Premier Soccer League.
The Air Force side churned out an array of stars like the Muteji twins (Cain and Abel), Nkulumo "Daidzai Vamwe" Donga, 2002 Soccer Star of the Year Maxwell "MaRhino" Dube, Clement Mugari, Gary Mkandawire, Wellington Shangiwa and prolific finisher Philip Marufu, who is now at army side Black Rhinos.
Chapungu also brought to the fore exciting players like Warriors international striker and Mamelodi Sundowns gunman Cuthbert Malajila, who went on to play for giants Dynamos and Highlanders before sealing a lucrative move to South Africa.
They even represented the country in the then Caf African Winners Cup (now Caf Confederations Cup) in 1996, but were a bit unlucky as they were knocked out in the first round by Young Africans of Tanzania.
Chapungu coach Nyikadzino, who holds a Caf B Licence, is confident the talent he has in his ranks will rekindle the "Chapungu spirit of old."
"We had been in the wilderness for long and we thank God for guiding us back into the top-flight league. We were united from day one of the season and the supporters were fantastic.
"We have a number of youngsters who I tip to shine in the Premiership and people should brace themselves for more surprises from Chapungu," said Nyikadzino.
Apart from the Murisa twins, Nyikadzino banked on the talented Midlands State University student, Farai Manase, whose ball artistry in the middle of the park won him many admirers while steady centre-back, Tichaona Muyengeni provided cover.
Nyikadzino joined the team in the second half of last year's campaign and guided Chapungu to second position behind promoted Tripple B.
But this year, there was no grounding the airmen, who are back in the sky - flying high.
Source - sundaymail
