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Raymond Jaravaza, Sports Correspondent
NEGOTIATIONS between Highlanders and their principal sponsors BancABC to extend their sponsorship deal are at an advanced stage prompting the Bulawayo giants to engage players whose contracts expire at the end of the year.
BancABC sponsors Bosso and Harare giants Dynamos.
The pan-African financial services provider signed a five year deal with the two clubs in 2011 under which BancABC pays salaries of the teams’ players and the technical staff with Bosso and DeMbare taking care of winning bonuses and signing-on fees.
“BancABC have given us an ear with regards to extending the sponsorship deal with us but obviously they have their principals that they report to.
The negotiations are looking good.
“We have started engaging players whose contracts expire at the end of the year to retain them for the 2017 season. We still have two games to go and we want the boys to concentrate on playing football so I cannot give you the names of the players we are talking to. Imagine if two or three players do not see their names on that list with two games before the season ends, they will simply lose heart,” Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede said.
Bosso is looking at retaining at least 60 percent of the current squad.
“The young players have contracts running into 2018 so we are not really worried about them. It’s a few of the older players that we are keen on retaining for next season,” he said.
Bosso have youngsters Prince Dube, midfielders Adrian Silla, Danmore Chakwana and Brian Banda together with defender Bukhosi Ncube in their ranks.
Highlanders have reportedly made overtures for the Hwange striking duo of Newman Sianchali and Gift Mbweti as they begin preparations for the 2017 season.
Sianchali was released by Hwange after requesting for a contract termination last month when the coal miners failed to fulfil agreed contractual obligations.
Mbweti is two goals shy of veteran Leonard Tsipa heading into the last two rounds of matches for the 2016 season. Star defender and Soccer Star of the Year favourite Peter Muduhwa has already extended his contract with the Bulawayo giants
— @RaymondJaravaza.
Online Reporter