admin
Ricky Zililo and Sikhumbuzo Moyo
BULAWAYO soccer giants Highlanders’ 2013 top goal-scorer Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube has packed his bags and headed for FC Platinum while goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya’s family has relocated to Bulawayo from Harare.
Ncube asked for a clearance letter yesterday morning after failing to agree terms with Highlanders. The discussions, according to the club were cordial.
However, it is not all gloomy for the Kelvin Kaindu-coached side after Diya, the gangly Mbada Diamonds Cup Player and Goalkeeper of the Tournament, who is on national duty with the Zimbabwe Warriors for the African Nations Championship (Chan) finals in South Africa told Chronicle Sport that like Bruce Kangwa, he remained committed to the Bulawayo giants even if he is yet to append his signature to the contract.
“My family has since relocated to Bulawayo my brother and that shows and is proof enough that I am Bossolona,” said Diya from his South African camp yesterday.
Diya took over the number one jersey from Ariel Sibanda after coming in as a second half substitute in the Bob Super Cup second leg final against arch rivals Dynamos in Harare last year after Sibanda had let in an incredible four goals.
He has never looked back since and won the hearts of many Bosso faithful who are known for their hard-to-please stance after coming up with many crucial saves.
A source close to the Highlanders hierarchy said the club has since offered the 2013 Soccer Star of the Year finalist a three-year deal which he has promised to sign after Chan.
“The club is ready and my understanding is that Diya himself called from South Africa and said he wants a three-year deal. His brother Tichaona also assured Highlanders that his younger brother will not leave them (Bosso),” said the usually reliable source.
Tichaona is the goalkeepers’ trainer at champions Dynamos.
While Diya was reaffirming his commitment to the black and white army, Tshiki, who banged 13 goals for Bosso in all competitions, two of which made him a joint Mbada Diamonds Cup Top Goal-scorer of the Tournament with club mates Gabriel Nyoni and Masimba Mambare, Silas Songani of Harare City and Caps United’s Tawanda Nyamandwe, was heading to the Midlands.
He becomes the second senior player to leave Bosso in a space of a week after Masimba Mambare’s move to Dynamos. Immediate monetary challenges influenced Ncube’s decision to dump Highlanders who had promised to give the player his signing fees at the end of the month.
“I have signed a one-year deal with FC Platinum and I am in Bulawayo to collect my boots so that I join them in Kariba. I wish the best for Bosso and I hope to do well with my new club.
“I met abadala and they were frank with me that they will get the money from the sponsors later this month but because I have other problems that needed immediate action, I had to look elsewhere for cash. FC Platinum were interested in my services and because I have school fees to pay, a house under construction as well as some pressing personal stuff that needed money I had to sign with FC Platinum,” said Ncube.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube said they gave the striker who was part of Kaindu’s wish list a clearance letter after failing to tie him down.
“We are busy negotiating with all our players and Njabulo Ncube who we were involved in discussions with came to us and said he wants money on the table before he puts pen to paper. Unfortunately we do not have that money now but what I can guarantee our followers even our players is that we are one of the teams well sponsored and Njabulo could not bear with us to be patient until later this month citing pressing issues needing money.
“He was frank with us that he wants to look for money elsewhere and said that in the absence of cash he wants to hold on to his clearance letter,” Dube said.
Bosso are being bankrolled by BancABC who have promised to release funds to Highlanders later this month.
Despite dumping Highlanders who twice gave him a lifeline to revive his career in 2011 and 2013, Tshiki said “no love is lost” with Bosso.
In 2011 he won the Independence Cup with Bosso before leaving the club and returned last season to lead Bosso to the Mbada Diamonds Cup glory.
Ncube could not be drawn into revealing the financial details of his move to Zvishavane but Chronicle Sport has it that FC Platinum parted with $12,000 to get the striker into their books.
At FC Platinum, Ncube will compete for a starting place with new signings Stephen “Dila” Sibanda (who came from Buffaloes) and Tarisai Rukanda (Shabanie Mine). Other strikers at FC Platinum are Aubrey Chirwa, Donald Ngoma and Nelson Maziwisa.
Highlanders are busy trying to tie down most of their players and are hoping to sign national team players Charles Sibanda, Hwange’s rock-solid defender Erick Chipeta while Diya, Milton Ncube and Peter “Rio” Moyo will append their signatures after the Chan tournament.
Yesterday, Highlanders’ negotiating duo of secretary Andrew Tapela and treasurer Jerry Sibanda met with Joel Ngodzo at mid-day and were expected to meet midfield maestro Mthulisi Maphosa as well.
Londile Moyo
Bongani Ndlovu