Harare giants CAPS United have pulled the emergency lever in response to their disastrous start to the season, unveiling a dramatic backroom shake-up headlined by the return of club legend Ian Bakala as assistant coach. The Green Machine, languishing just above the relegation trapdoor in 15th place, are gambling on nostalgia and fresh tactical ideas to revive their faltering campaign.
Bakala, a former midfield dynamo for Makepekepe during their glory years, has been handed a key role in the new-look technical team. His appointment comes as part of a sweeping revolution that sees long-time gaffer Lloyd Chitembwe shifted upstairs to a technical director role—a move signalling the club’s urgency to stop the rot. The axe has fallen on the rest of the previous coaching staff, with a mystery head coach set to be unveiled Thursday ahead of the clash against Herentals this weekend.
Chitembwe’s redeployment raises eyebrows, with the tactician who once masterminded the technical area now tasked with overseeing long-term strategy rather than day-to-day firefighting. Insiders suggest the move hints at a fractured dressing room, with players reportedly losing faith in the old guard’s methods.
Currently perched precariously one spot above the drop zone, CAPS United’s hierarchy is clearly in no mood for half-measures. Saturday’s showdown against Herentals looms as a must-win, with the new technical team given barely 72 hours to drill their philosophy into an underperforming squad.
With the PSL season approaching its midway point, CAPS’ revamped technical team must conjure quick results. The incoming gaffer’s first team sheet will be dissected like a tactical manifesto, particularly in attack, where the Green Machine have mustered a paltry six goals. All eyes will be on whether Bakala’s wisdom can unlock creativity or if the club will dip into the transfer market for emergency reinforcements.
As the dust settles on Monday’s bombshell, one thing is clear: CAPS United’s board has rolled the dice. Whether this high-stakes gamble propels them up the table or plunges them deeper into crisis will define their season—and possibly their top-flight status.
