CAPS United F.C.
Association football club in Zimbabwe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CAPS United F.C. is a Zimbabwean football club based in Harare. Formed in 1973, the team rose to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
| Full name | CAPS United Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | Makepekepe, Green Machine, Kepekepe Bhora. | |
| Founded | 1973 | |
| Ground | National Sports Stadium | |
| Capacity | 60,000 | |
| Manager | Ian Bakala[1] | |
| League | Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League | |
| 2025 | 9th | |
| Website | http://www.capsutd.com | |
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History
The team is popularly known as the "Cup Kings" or "Makepekepe", earned due to their success in cup tournaments in the late 1970s and 1980s.[2][3] It was formerly nicknamed the Manchester Road Boys because of their former address.
They are Harare's second most popular team after their rivals Dynamos F.C., whose fans refer to them as "Madzvinyu" (Lizards). While CAPS United have fewer trophies than Dynamos, they have produced some of the country's best players, including Shacky Tauro and Brenna Msiska.
In 1972, Maurice Kraemer decided to start an official football outfit to entertain workers at Central African Pharmaceuticals, a business based at Manchester Road. Just one year later CAPS Rovers was registered as a team in the Northern Region.[4]
Coach, Steven Kwashi led the team to victory in the 1996 championship. In 2004, Charles Mhlauri took over the club, winning back-to-back championships with the club only losing one game in 2004; a 4–3 home defeat to Highlanders F.C. in a thrilling game at the National Sports Stadium.[5]
Due to the large fan bases and the passionate rivalry between CAPS United and the Dynamos, their games are referred to as the "Harare Derby",[6] and they attract large crowds. As for other rivalries, the matches between CAPS United and Bulawayo side Highlanders FC have been dubbed the "Battle of the Cities".[7]
Crest
- Former logo
- Present logo
Honours
Performance in CAF competitions
- CAF Champions League: 4 appearances
- CAF Confederation Cup: 2 appearances
- CAF Cup: 3 appearances
- CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 4 appearances
Coaches
Sarupinda [wasu]
Ashton Nyazika
Lovemore Nyabeza
Freddie Mukwesha
Nti Bihene Bonzu
Shaky Tauro
Kabole
Mafemba
Friday Phiri
Steve Kwashi
Brenna Msiska
Luke Masomere
Justin Mathuthu
Rahman Gumbo (2002–03)
Fewdays Musonda (2003)
Charles Mhlauri (2004–05)
Lloyd Chitembwe (2008–10)
Moses Chunga (2010–11)
Sean Connor (2012)[8]
Mkhuphali "Mike" Masuku (2012)
Taurai Mangwiro (2013–14)
Mark Harrison (2015)
Lloyd Chitembwe (2015–19)
Darlington Dobo (2019–22)
Lloyd Chitembwe (2022–25)[9]
Ian Bakala (2025–)[10]
Sponsors
In September 2025, CAPS signed a deal with Green Dollar Coin Bank.[11]