Chiefs dig in on Chirinda

Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

OBRIEL CHIRINDA’S intended move to Dynamos on January 1 as a free agent is being resisted by Bulawayo Chiefs who insist they have a contract expiring at the end of 2024.

As such, Bulawayo Chiefs insist they will only release Chirinda to suitors like Dynamos on a good financial deal.

Without good money, Chirinda will only move as a free agent in January 2025 according to Bulawayo Chiefs who secured their stay in the Premiership in the penultimate round of league matches last month and would need revenue from the player’s transfer to ease their financial woes.

The 26-year-old forward, who is looking to force a move away from Johannes Nhumwa’s side a free agent, claims Bulawayo Chiefs have breached terms of their contract.

As such he wants to walk away for free.

Bulawayo Chiefs secretary-general Dumisani Sibanda yesterday told Zimpapers Sports that Chirinda was still in their plans unless they received an offer that is difficult to resist.

“I’ve been out of town for the last 10 days but as far as I know he still has a running contract with us, until the end of 2024. He can only be a free agent afterwards.

“To date we haven’t negotiated with any club about his services, unless it happened in my absence in the last 10 days, of which I have not heard anything to that effect from the office.

“So Chirinda is very much a Bulawayo Chiefs player at least until the end of 2024,” said Sibanda.

The matter will now involve the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe, who are however, yet to receive an official complaint from Chirinda.

FUZ president Desmond Maringwa yesterday said his office was yet to receive a complaint from the player.

“Indeed, he hinted that there was an issue that he wanted FUZ to assist him with. I’m not sure about the nature of the challenge because nothing has been made official.

“As FUZ, we are always ready to assist both players and clubs to find each other in case of dispute, but in this instance we have not received the complaint. If there is indeed a breach, then there are processes that need to be followed,” said Maringwa.

The diminutive forward scored 12 goals last season and was the second runner up in the Golden Boot race, one goal shy of eventual winner Takunda Benhura of Ngezi Platinum Stars who scored 13 goals.

This was despite the fact that Chirinda played fewer games due to injuries and missed some games due to national team duty. He was also among the Soccer Star of the Year finalists and finished as second runner-up.

He has also been heavily involved with the national team, on Zimbabwe’s return to international football, on account of his good form this year which caught the attention of many big clubs.

Hence Chiefs are looking to cash in on the player, who has also been targeted for long by Bulawayo giants Highlanders. Sibanda said they were ready to entertain offers for the forward.

“He is someone who has done really well this year and as a result has attracted the attention of many clubs and is wanted everywhere.

“Obviously some clubs have been said to be interested in the boy but we are yet to get any offer.

“If there is something on the table, then it hasn’t been entertained by the club yet unless it happened during my absence in the last 10 days,” said Sibanda.

“Our position is clear. If there is a reasonable offer for his services, there is no reason for the club to deny him a move to greener pastures. It’s about the offer to the boy and to the club,.