adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
BUFFALOES continued their preseason preparations at their Mutare Show Grounds soccer field without gaffer, Saul Chaminuka who is highly likely to dump the relegated Mutare side for any offer to join a top-flight league side. A number of Buffaloes players regrouped for training more than two weeks now with former players, Eddie Dube and Dananai Chinowawa presiding over sessions.
Chaminuka, who initially pledged to stay at Buffaloes as they fight their way back into the top-flight league, maintained that position in an interview with this newspaper last week, announcing that he would join camp on last Friday.
But Chaminuka was nowhere to be seen in the environs of Mutare Showgrounds early this week.
His continued absence from Buffaloes preseason preparations and widespread talk that he is on his way to newly promoted Beitbridge outfit Border Strikers has left Buffaloes making alternative plans as fallback position if the national team assistant coach fails to turn up for duty.
Accordingly, the Mutare army side have Dongo Sawmills mentor, Shadreck ‘Father’ Mugurasave, who is already in their books, as their second option. Buffaloes’ spokesperson, Gladman Chimonyo, confirmed that the team have Mugurasave as a possible replacement for Chaminuka.
“We are expecting him (Saul Chaminuka) between Thursday and Friday). I talked to him over the phone and that is what he pledged. We are aware that at this time of the year clubs will be on the market and there could be some clubs interested in his services. It is entirely up to him to choose.
“However, we also have a club to run and get things going with or without Chaminuka. It is against that background that we have Shadreck Mugurasave as a possible replacement for Chaminuka,’ said Chimonyo.
Nonetheless, Mugurasave’s return to Buffaloes, if it ever comes to pass, would be a sad development for Dongo Sawmills given that the project entirely depended on him and financier Francis Dongo. Interestingly, it is Mugurasave who got both teams – Buffaloes and Dongo Sawmills – promoted into the top flight league from the Eastern Region Division One.
Online Reporter