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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER senior national soccer team striker Charles Sibanda was a notable absentee for How Mine at the Bulawayo Football Festival with coach Kelvin Kaindu attributing it to disciplinary issues. The Zambian coach, who started his new job at How Mine last week, said Sibanda was omitted from the tournament after he skipped a training session without permission.
“Sibanda is still our player, but because of disciplinary matters, he didn’t make it into the team. He missed a training session and I don’t know whether that used to happen in the past, but in my team, if you skip a training session, you don’t play. We’ve to try and restore discipline because the team is there, but the problem is discipline. There are some improvements though,” said Kaindu.
The football festival was won by Highlanders, who beat PSL newcomers Bulawayo City 1-0 in the final, while How Mine claimed a third place finish after edging Tsholotsho FC by an identical score line. All the four clubs paraded new signings and trialists.
How Mine’s latest acquisitions include former national team left-back Qadr Amini, who spent the better part of last season playing second fiddle to Ocean Mushure at Dynamos after joining the Harare giants from FC Platinum.
The gold miners have also signed Zambian striker Sakala Mukundike from Triangle United, winger Toto Banda from Chicken Inn, former ZPC Kariba midfielder Tsepo Ranthokoane and defender Kudzai Chideu from relegated Dongo Sawmill. Central midfielder Pasca Manhanga and Praise Tonha have also followed Kaindu from Triangle.
City’s new faces include the midfield duo of Mthulisi Maphosa and Edmore Muzanenhamo, who were at Highlanders last season, striker Thomas Chimenya and Guinea Bissau midfielder Mohamed Kourouma.
Italian goalkeeper Giacomo Ratto headlined the new faces at Tsholotsho FC.
Former Zambian champions Zesco’s utility player Zimiseleni Moyo, ex-Bulawayo Chiefs’ midfielder Gift Saunyama and striker Tinashe Makanda, who spent last season on loan at FC Platinum’s Under-19 from Zim Leopards, are the new faces at Tsholotsho.
Highlanders, who have made it clear that they don’t have resources to sign big name players, beefed up their squad by promoting juniors.
Three of their junior products, striker Prince Dube and midfielders Adrian Silla and Percy Sibanda, stole the show with some sublime performances that left many convinced that the future looks bright for the Bulawayo giants.
Dube capped his fine performances with a beautiful goal in the final, connecting a cheeky Silla chip under the challenge of City’s experienced defender Zibusiso Sibanda to beat seasoned goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda at the near post.
Other players trying their luck at Highlanders include ex-Quelaton, FC Platinum and Harare City’s creative midfielder Mhleli Sibanda, Ryan Mabhena, who was at Bulawayo City last season and Brian Banda from Bosso’s developmental side that won promotion into the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.
Online Reporter