Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Chiefs’ secretary-general, Dumisani Mantula Sibanda, says their aggressive approach in the transfer market is driven by their desire to make a swift return to the top-flight league.
Chiefs, who were relegated last year, have been busy in the transfer market, bringing back some of their top players from previous seasons.
Leading the charge are the trio of Kelvin Madzongwe, Malvin Mkolo, and Arthur Musiyiwa. Madzongwe joins Chiefs from Zifa Southern Region Division One side Zebra Revolution, while Mkolo and Musiyiwa arrive from Simba Bhora and Dynamos, respectively, where they both struggled for regular game time. Also returning to Chiefs is goalkeeper Matripples Muleya, who arrives from TelOne.
The duo of defender Polite Mwenda and Gabriel Dlodlo have joined the club from other teams.
Yesterday, the club announced the arrival of Tatenda Ushe, who scored 15 goals in Division One last season. The team has also signed Crispen Machisi from Arenel Movers.
Sibanda says the club has its sights firmly set on a quick return to the Premiership.
“We are happy with the players we have brought on board. Our aim for the season is very simple: we want to return to the top-flight league. As a result, we have to build a strong squad that will mount a challenge for the title. It’s not going to be easy to gain promotion, but we are doing everything in our power to ensure we are not playing Division One football for long,” said Sibanda.
Following the departure of their head coach, Thulani “Thuts” Sibanda, at the end of last season, the club has brought in Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe as his replacement.
Jongwe will be assisted by Bekithemba Ndlovu.
Chiefs were forced to rebuild their team mid-season last year, which contributed to their relegation.
During this period, Tatenda Ndlovu and Malvin Sithole left to join Wangu Mazodze in the Central Region Division One League, while Nkosiyabo Masilela and the experienced Xolisani Moyo joined TelOne.
Masilela was reportedly on Highlanders’ radar before eventually settling for TelOne. Highlanders secured Never Rauzhi on loan, while defender and captain Malvern Hativagoni joined Ngezi Platinum on loan.
Midfielder Moses Muchenje suffered a long-term injury. — @innocentskizoe.
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