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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC coach Kelvin Kaindu has reportedly included Hwange and national team defender, Erick Chipeta on his wish-list.
The Zambian expatriate, who extended his stay at Bosso by another two years last week, has told his club superiors to get Chipeta to bolster his defence.
Kaindu was a concerned man towards the end of last season highlighting a need to have a watertight defence after seeing his team concede silly goals in most of their matches.
Bosso lost the championship to Dynamos for the second season in a row due to an inferior goal difference and had their backline been solid, they could have snatched the title from the Harare side. Highlanders scored the most goals (45) and conceded 27 league goals compared to Dynamos’ 22.
A usually reliable source said Kaindu hopes to build his defence around Chipeta who has a year left on his contract with Hwange.
“The coach has been following Chipeta for some time and has told the club to get him the player. As you may be aware, Kaindu never made it a secret that his defence was at times sloppy leading to them conceding goals late in most stages.
It is those goals that came late which cost them the title and the coach is keen on making a wise buy to consolidate his backline,” said the source.
Should Bosso manage to get Chipeta ahead of Dynamos who have also been dangling the carrot for the national team star, he is likely to partner either ageing captain Innocent Mapuranga, Eric Mudzingwa or Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu.
Chipeta (23) was a marvel for Hwange last season and his superb display saw him being voted into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Soccer Star of the Year top 11.
The source said Highlanders have a better chance of snapping the player ahead of DeMbare due to good relations that they have with the coalminers.
Without confirming his move to Highlanders, the former DStv Rangers highly-rated player also hinted that he could be in Bulawayo in the 2014 season.
“Right now I am in camp preparing for Chan but I can say my chances of leaving Hwange at the moment are 50-50. There are a number of clubs that have shown their desire to have me in their books and everything will all depend on the club (Hwange). I need new challenges and I might be coming to Bulawayo but please note that I did not say to which club,” Chipeta said.
Bulawayo has four Premiership clubs – Highlanders, Chicken Inn, How Mine and newly-promoted Plumtree Chiefs. Chipeta has also attracted interest beyond the borders having gone for trials at South African Premiership club Golden Arrows together with Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya.
Contacted for comment, Hwange secretary Burzil Dube said they are yet to receive official communication from clubs intending to get the player.
“We have been on holiday but I have checked the club’s e-mails and I can tell you that we have not had any official enquiries on our players. We intend retaining most of our players for the coming season and even Chipeta that you are asking about.
“However, it is not our policy to stand in a player’s way when they want to move but since he has a contract with Hwange FC, any club interested in his services will have to meet our demands,” Dube said.
Chipeta is among a host of players that Kaindu wants in his squad and there are indications that there are a number of experienced players who are keen on joining Bosso.
Kaindu is also keen on retaining Peter “Rio” Moyo who had a brief training spell with Bidvest Wits in South Africa last month, Milton Ncube, Diya and Masimba Mambare who are all with the national team.
Charles Sibanda, who has left FC Platinum, has been linked to Highlanders and so are Kudakwashe Mahachi and Danny Phiri whose contracts with Chicken Inn ran out on December 31.
Highlanders’ chairman Peter Dube confirmed that Chipeta is in Kaindu’s wish-list.
“It is true that Chipeta is one of the players the coach wants but unfortunately I cannot comment any further on the matter because we have to engage his club first and we do not want to jeopardise our chances of getting the player. Highlanders is a professional institution that strives to do everything above the line and as such the first thing is to engage his club and ask for their blessings. Once we have communicated with Hwange FC, then we will let you know,” said the Bosso boss.
Already, the club has concluded deals with Welcome Ndiweni and left back Khumbulani Banda. It seems Highlanders’ strong finish in the last two seasons has managed to turn around its fortunes with players jostling to make their way to the Bulawayo giants.
Online Reporter