adminEddie Chikamhi Harare Bureau
FC Platinum target Rodwell Chinyengetere will not be making the move to the Zvishavane side after the Hwange forward failed a medical.
Chinyengetere, who returned to action this season following a horrific injury which kept him on the sidelines for close to two years, was on coach Norman Mapeza’s wish-list as he sought to bolster his squad for next year’s Confederation Cup.
FC Platinum had also aimed at securing the services of Soccer Star of the Year finalist Tendai Samanja but the dreadlocked defensive linkman has turned down the overtures as he is reportedly interested in following his former coach at Caps United, Taurai Mangwiro, who is now at Harare City.
Kugona Kunenge Kudada spokesperson Chido Chizondo yesterday said the side is now racing against time as they battle to beat the December 31 deadline for the submission of squads to the Confederation of African Football.
“Our hope is that we should be done with our squad by the 27th of this month. As you know we had wanted to bring on board Tendai Samanja but he turned us down. We were also aiming for Chinyengetere and unfortunately he failed the medical.
“But we’re happy we’ve retained the greater part of our squad. I’m sure by now you all know the players that we’ve parted ways with. We’ve released Mitchell Katsvairo, Tolbert Shumba and Benjamin Marere,” said Chizondo.
The side has signed former Black Rhinos striker Brian Muzondiwa. FC Platinum were drawn to face one of Kenya’s top sides, Sofapaka, in the preliminary round of the Confederation Cup next year.
They are expected to have a short break for the Christmas and New Year holidays before resuming preparations. However, Chizondo said they are still monitoring some of their injured players — Stephen Sibanda and Winston Mhango — who they hope should be fully fit by the time they begin pre-season.
Meanwhile, FC Platinum defender Aaron Katembe has been named in the Zambia national football team set to step up preparations for the African Cup of Nations finals.
The Zimbabwe-based defender was named by Honor Janza as the coach has combined youth and experience in his 27-man preliminary squad announced in Lusaka this week.
The Afcon finals are set to take place in Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8, next year. Katebe was roped in after Zesco United defender Nyambe Mulenga was ruled out with injuries suffered in a road traffic accident.
The squad which will be whittled down to 23 players by January 10 is scheduled for a training camp to start tomorrow in Johannesburg.
Zambia is scheduled to play an international friendly match against South Africa on January 4.
Janza has named 12 players who were at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa and eleven from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winning squad.
Kennedy Mweene, Joshua Titima and Danny Munyao, all three goalkeepers who were at the tournament two years ago, have been named in the squad with the addition to the fold of Nchanga Rangers goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata.
Afcon winners Stopilla Sunzu, Davies Nkausu and Emmanuel Mbola will bring their experience at this level to a back line that includes 2013 Cosafa Cup winners Bronson Chama, Donashano Malama, Christopher Munthali and Rodrick Kabwe.
Young midfielders Spencer Sautu and Lubambo Musonda have also been included. Utility man Kondwani Mtonga of Northend United in the Indian Premier League has also been named for the first time by Janza.
MTN FAZ Super League top scorers Ronald Kampamba and Jackson Mwanza have also been included on Janza’s list. Also named is Patrick Ngoma, winner of the Golden Boot at the 2014 Cosafa Under-20 Youth Championships.
Zambia is placed in Group B along with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia and Cape Verde.
Online Reporter