Caps United launch TV show

SPORT and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane says the Ministry is going to lobby for the opening of a television channel that will cater for sport as communication was vital if the sector is to develop.

He was the guest of honour at the launch of "The Makepekepe Show", an electronic magazine programme which features the club, and is likely to be screened, initially once a month, on SuperSport 9 as well as ZTV.

The footage, packaged in Dvds, will also be sold as copies to individuals as well as the supporters.

The magazine show was launched amid pomp and funfare at the Eastgate Ster Kinekor movie theatres and the event was attended by ZIFA officials, Sports Commission director general Charles Nhemachena as well as the club's board members led by chairman Lewis Uriri.

The magazine, a 30-minute programme, features player profiles, the club's training sessions, behind-the-scenes events, including how they prepare for a match, the coaches' game plan, a fan zone and the executive's corner.

"Communication is at the centre of how sport can develop in the country and, therefore, when an initiative like this is taken by CAPS United, one of the biggest clubs in Zimbabwe, one of the greatest teams ever on Zimbabwean soil, it speaks a message to us as the policy makers of sport in our country in terms of how do we locate and situate communication as the centre of the development of sport, in this particular regard, football, this for us is very very important," said Hlongwane.

"I want you to know that one of the things we are also going to be doing at the ministry is to lobby for a channel that is dedicated for sport, local sport and, clearly, given the ranking of football in our economy, football is a very important economic sector for us, from an employment point of view and also from a revenue generation point of view and its contribution to the fiscus.

"Therefore, we are going to say we need a local channel that is dedicated specifically to sport and given the ranking of football it is obviously going to occupy that high space in terms of content."

The Minister who said he felt it was important that he graced the occasion before dashing to the opening of the Samba Night and commended the club for their initiative.

CAPS United rivals, Dynamos, once tried to have such a programme, which was called "DeMbare TV," but the project appears to have collapsed.

"As a ministry we do things differently, in a certain way, in a way that fits into international best practices.

"I am glad to come and witness the magazine programme Makepekepe show. I learnt that CAPS United is going to be the first club to launch this kind of a magazine and flight it on national television.

"For this I commend the leadership of CAPS United.

"I want to encourage other clubs to follow suit, especially the principle around what it is that you are doing," said Hlongwane.

Before the launch of the ambitious programme, in the afternoon coach Lloyd Chitembwe had addressed a media briefing in the capital ahead of their match against ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga tomorrow. Flanked by one of his senior players Stephen Makatuka and young Romaro Matova, the coach said his charges were feeling energised after last week's break.

CAPS United were not part of the Chibuku Cup semi-finals after they were booted out by ZPC Kariba in the first round. In that pulsating match the two teams went blow-for-blow but the former champions were finally subdued in the penalty shoot-out.

"The break was indeed a blessing in disguise because we needed to energise the boys after the previous weeks' efforts and I am happy the period saved its purpose," said Chitembwe.

"We have worked hard for this fixture, we obviously looking forward to a very difficult game. ZPC Kariba are not a small team, they are a big team, equally big players coached by a good coach so it is not any easy assignment.

"I think in football what's important is how prepared are your players and I am sure we have done that. We are not really looking at what position and what situation ZPC are, that is none of our business.

"All we are concerned about is how best we can improve ourselves and our team and I am sure that is within our control and I think the players are prepared."

In their last league encounter, CAPS United hammered Highlanders 3-1 at the National Sports Stadium.

"Our primary target is to be seen competing, to be seen doing well because I strongly believe this is what the team deserves," said Chitembwe.

"We are not a small football club, we are a very big football club and deserve getting results consistent with a big club.

"I am happy so far and very grateful to the players, they have taken responsibility and there is no coach who will demand more than what the guys have given us, very responsible, very professional.

"The players have adjusted quicker than I anticipated. If there is anything that any coach enjoys to see then it's how players reproducing what he has taught them at training and doing it in game situations. "The desire and effort is what you want to see because there is no amount of training that can compensate for the lack of effort and desire."