BY GERALD MUTSVAIRO
CAPS United winger Gabriel Nyoni has spoken of his excitement at the opportunity to further his career in South Africa after ABSA Premiership side Maritzburg submitted an offer for the player to the Harare club last week.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder reportedly impressed the Maritzburg technical team led by new coach Eric Tinker during a trial stint at the Pietermaritzburg side, which is currently on a rebuilding exercise after surviving relegation last season.
Nyoni, who has been enjoying a superb debut season with Makepekepe after moving from Highlanders at the start of the campaign, said he was hopeful that CAPS United would accept the offer made by Maritzburg.
“I hope they [CAPS United] accept the offer Maritzburg have given them putting into consideration my future as a person,” Nyoni told StandardSport in an interview from South Africa on Friday.
“However, from the way I have worked amicably with everyone at CAPS, I can’t say much about the contract offer as the ball is now in the hands of CAPS United.”
Nyoni, a speedy winger, enjoyed his best ever season with Highlanders last term after scoring six goals before being lured to the capital to join CAPS United, where he has hit the ground running scoring five goals and providing three assists in 12 games.
The gifted player, who has a marketing degree, said he was determined to use the opportunity in South Africa to stake a claim in the senior national team, the Warriors.
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“Highlanders is a big club, I left it to join CAPS United, which is another big club in Zimbabwe. Now it’s about time to get a new challenge outside Zimbabwean borders, which is financially good for my family,” he said.
“Now I will be in a new environment, new coach with his different philosophy.”
“The desire is to make my name in the ABSA Premier Soccer League. I want to make a mark in the team, but it is always not that easy.
“I will work hard and see what comes out. If everything goes well I also want to be called up to play for my national team Zimbabwe and want to score several goals for the club and make a name here.”
Nyoni said he enjoyed his time at CAPS United and learnt a lot under the tutelage of Lloyd Chitembwe.
“I really enjoyed my time at CAPS United. Coach Lloyd Chitembwe was always giving me that confidence to keep on pushing. I had a good working relationship with the coach and my fellow teammates and without them I couldn’t have made it,” he said.
