Bucs confirm Chinyama deal

Tuesday, two days after scoring his last goal for Dynamos at Barbourfields on Sunday, and was part of the Bucs training session yesterday.
Pirates’ confirmation, which was carried on the club’s official website, ends the confusion that had been triggered by incorrect media reports here that the Chinyama deal was yet to be sealed because of a deadlock over the transfer fee.

The Herald has maintained that Chinyama’s deal was sealed last Friday when DeMbare agreed terms with the Pirates’ representative, Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala and put pen to paper in Harare.
Yesterday, the Soweto giants confirmed that Chinyama was now officially their player.
“With the start of the season a few weeks away, Orlando Pirates have clinched the services of Zimbabwean striker Takesure Chinyama to bolster the teams’ attack,” the club said on its official website.

“Orlandopiratesfc.com can confirm that the burly Zimbabwean striker has penned a three-year deal with the club.
“Bucs club administrator, Senzo Mazingiza, confirmed this morning that the 29-year-old marksman is an Orlando Pirates player and had his first training session with his new teammates today.
“Head Coach Augusto Palacios told Orlandopiratesfc.com earlier today that he is happy to have Chinyama at the club.”
Palacios, who led Pirates to a Treble last season, said:

“At Orlando Pirates we only want to bring the best players. He (Chinyama) signed with the team because he is a good player.
“I like the way he makes his runs and he has good touches on the ball.
“He trained with us today and from what I could see, he is a player with tremendous potential; playing for Pirates is different — the players have very little time to adjust because this is a big club and the fans demand a lot from the players. He needs to gain match fitness and I hope he will give that depth in the team’s attack.”

Chinyama will team up with South African international, Benni McCarthy, in leading the Pirates’ attack.
Mccarthy said he was ready and willing to play for Bafana Bafana again.
A learner McCarthy, who last played for the national team in 2008, under Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, said the friendly chat he had with Bafana’s new

coach Gordon Igesund two weeks ago, convinced him that he was still wanted.
“I had a chat with the coach two weeks ago and he was happy that my form is still intact,” said McCarthy.
“If the coach feels that I still have what it takes to play for Bafana once again, then I am ready.

“At the moment, my focus is doing well at Pirates and so far so good.”
McCarthy, who will be facing traditional rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the second edition of the Carling Black Label tournament at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night, said he was much fitter and felt young again.

“I feel like a 25-year-old unlike my age of 34,” McCarthy said.
“This is all thanks to my coach Augusto Palacios who ensured that I started the season as fit as a fiddle.
“Last season, I felt heavy and it took me a while to settle in, but this time around, I am feeling good and confident ahead of the season.”

Pirates emerged as winners in convincing the Bafana all-time, leading goalscorer, with 31 international goals, that Bucs was the right team to join.
Aiming to follow in the footsteps of his fellow veteran striker, Siyabonga Nomvethe, the former Celta Vigo, Porto and Blackburn Rovers marksman said anything was possible.

Nomvethe won the PSL Footballer of the Year, Absa Player of the Season, Player’s Player of the Season and leading goalscorer after banging in 20 well-taken goals.
“I intend to follow in Nomvethe’s footsteps as he showed consistency last season,” said McCarthy.
“I have belief that my dream can be realised as we have strengthened the team with good, quality players.

“Chiefs are not an easy side to beat and that means we must be at our best on Saturday.” Having scored a spectacular brace in the last game between the two clubs, all eyes will be on McCarthy to repeat his goalscoring prowess which has certainly made him dangerous prey in the 18 yard penalty area. — Sports Reporter/Sapa.