CAPS Utd find Mureremba replacement

Eddie Chikamhi

Zimpapers Sports Hub

AFTER losing one of their stand-out talents Kingsley Mureremba at the end of the 2024 Castle Lager Premiership season, giants CAPS United have cast their nets far and wide in search of a suitable replacement.

The search took them to Central Africa where they settled for attacking midfielder Love Raema Bissila Mabiala from Congo (Brazzaville) on a two-year deal.

Bissila and his Zambian agent Jonathan Kalaba Chiti were in the country last week to conclude the contract talks with Makepekepe before putting pen to paper.

The 23-year-old midfielder impressed the Green Machine.

He comes with rich potential, having risen through the ranks from club football to feature in the Congo Under-23 side as well as the Congo senior national team in the last 24 months. CAPS United president Farai Jere was excited by the newest arrival, having also signed expat goalkeeper Stephen Odai Kwaku in preparation for the 2025 season. 

“Inasmuch as we have lost Mureremba, CAPS United is not just folding hands. There has to be a replacement for this position and I believe we have found one,” said Jere.

“This guy that we have signed is young and has a promising career ahead of him. But let’s be clear, we are not looking to overhaul the squad. Our fundamental aim as CAPS United is to retain the squad that we had and then look to strengthen certain areas.

“There are some positions where we encountered problems during the season and we need to get those areas sorted. We need to see the improvement; there are scouts that have been helping us with that.”

At 23 years, Bissila has three senior national team caps with Congo, having featured for the Central African nation at last year’s CAF African Nations Championships finals in Algeria.

He has also been a key member of the Congo Under-23 side. He honed his skills at five-time Congolese champions AS Otoho, before moving to current champions AC Leopards de Dolisie. 

CAPS United administrator Morton Dodzo said Bissila will join the club in time for the start of the 2025 pre-season.

“He has already been cleared by the Congolese authorities and we are now working on his work permit,” he said. 

CAPS United lost Mureremba, who was among the Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Stars this year, to the new PSL moneybags Scottland, who are building a strong outfit ahead of their maiden season in the topflight league.

The Mabvuku side went out of their way to convince both CAPS United and the midfielder, who had a contract expiring in December 2028, for his signature.

Makepekepe needed to make a business decision after the player had expressed a strong desire to move over to the ambitious newboys.

“There are times when you do not need to stand in the way of a player,” said Dodzo.

“Inasmuch as he loved the team we also respected the fact that he saw an opportunity elsewhere and felt he needed this move. So, we had to reach an agreement to clear him for his own sake.

“But in as much as we released such a good player we are putting in efforts to replenish the squad. That’s why we have brought Bissila. We are trying to look for top talent and we are not limiting our search to the domestic boundaries,” said Dodzo.

CAPS United are eager to compete for honours next season. The 2016 champions finished the recent campaign ninth on the log standings with 45 points.

The Green Machine have also shown an interest in Yadah midfield workhorse Tanaka Shandirwa, who is currently on loan at Dynamos.