UNITED Kingdom-based former CAPS United soccer players will host a night of football interaction for all Zimbabwean soccer fans and ex-players on December 10 at the Iqbal Banqueting Suite in Birmingham, with proceeds going towards the development of junior football in the country.
BY SPORTS REPORTER
The event, which has been dubbed “Soccer Night Dinner and Dance”, is the brainchild of former CAPS United captain Joe Mugabe, and will also include former CAPS United and Dynamos defender Carlos Max as the guest of honour.
Mugabe, who is the chairman of CAPS United Legends in the United Kingdom, stressed that though the function had been organised by CAPS United legends, it was open to every Zimbabwean.
“The event presents an opportunity for the legends to give back to the clubs whose junior policy contributed effectively to establishing our careers. We want to revive junior football in Zimbabwe, not only at CAPS United, but in the country as a whole,” he said.
“It’s just a soccer night, to eat and drink while reflecting on Zimbabwe football. We welcome all football people and fans from Dynamos, Highlanders and all other teams to come and enjoy. We want people on the night to discuss football-generating ideas and also come up with tangible solutions on how to improve our football at home. We want the dinner to be interactive and fun on the day.”
The event will be graced by various speakers and household sporting names in the UK and many former players from Zimbabwe, among them former Dynamos midfielder Memory Mucherahowa, Ambrose Mendy — one of the most successful black British sports agents — and a representative from the English FA Inclusion Project.
Efforts are also being made by the organisers to get the two Zimbabweans currently playing in the English Premier League, Tendayi Darikwa of Burnley and Brendan Galloway, who is currently on loan to West Bromwich Albion, to attend.
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The CAPS United Legends Association executive also includes the likes of Frank “Dealer” Nyamukuta, Liberty Masunda, Kelvin Mushabi, Timothy Chirozvani, Brian Badza, Raymond Undi, Tichaona Nyenda, Innocent Mugabe, Artwell Mabhiza, Thabani Sibanda and many other former players who turned out for Makepekepe and are now living in the UK.
The legends are working in collaboration with Team Zimbabwe UK, a Diaspora football community project that is fronting development of Zimbabwean football in the UK.
Most importantly, the night will also see the crowning of the Zimbabwe UK Footballer of the Year Award from both the senior and the junior Diaspora national teams. This award will be presented by Steve Menary of the BBC World Service, who will also be covering the event on the night.
CAPS United board chairman Lewis Uriri expressed his gratitude to the UK legends for hosting this event.
He confirmed that the club executive was in full support of this initiative and would like to foster a good working relationship with the legends.
