adminEddie Chikamhi Sport Reporter
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League office was happy with the response they got from the teams yesterday following the huge response to the call to beat yesterday’s deadline for the registration of provisional squads.
By late afternoon yesterday, almost all the teams, with the exception of CAPS United and newboys Whawha, had sent their squads to the PSL offices in Harare and Bulawayo.
Clubs were given until yesterday to register 25 senior and five junior players (born after 01 Jan 1996), who are part of their developmental sides, in preparation for the start of the new season.
The deadline, however, was meant to give the league at least three weeks to work on the paperwork and required documentation to avoid glitches and player wrangles when the season starts.
The clubs can still make alterations to their lists until 25 March when the transfer window closes.
The league’s competitions manager, Elisha Mandireva, yesterday said they were happy that they managed to beat the deadline.
Mandireva said they were still expecting the remaining teams to knock on their doors before close of business.
“We have received the lists from most of the teams here in Harare and at our Bulawayo offices. As we said before, this is just an administrative deadline. The transfer window closes on March 25 and we need time to capture the players’ details since our league programme starts during the window. Teams can still continue to make alterations to their lists until the close of the window,” said Mandireva.
The off-season was characterised by massive player movements with champions Dynamos, CAPS United, Highlanders, Harare City and How Mine all making significant changes to their squads.
The league usually encounters problems with players who negotiate contracts with more than one team and the PSL is hoping to avoid such complications when the new season begins on March 7.
FC Platinum, who are taking part in the Confederation Cup, were the first to complete their squad as they started their pre-season training earlier.
How Mine were one of the biggest spenders as their coach Luke Masomere went for most of the league’s talented and experienced players.
Harare City were also active on the market after raiding other Premiership teams like CAPS United, where they lured almost the entire technical team and key players Tafadzwa Dube and Tendai Samanja.
It will be interesting when Harare City and How Mine clash in a practice match at Rufaro tomorrow.
Champions Dynamos, who have lost a couple of key players during the off-season break, are still pressing with the negotiations to secure the services of last Year’s Northern Region Golden Boot winner Kasimero Chimbadzwa on loan from ZRP FC.
Highlanders have signed talented midfielder Nqobizitha from Bantu Rovers, former Monomotapa and Harare City anchorman Tendai Ngulube, Edmore Muzanenhamo, 18-year-old Thomas Chideu, Julius Daudi, Lindelani Ncube, Peter Muduhwa and goalkeeper Liberty Chirava.
Makepekepe have had a slow pre-season, which started off with two weeks of trials. The Harare giants’ efforts have been hampered by the absence of head coach Mark Harrison who is still holed up in South Africa.
Pre-season friendlies:
Today: Dongo Sawmill v CAPS United (Vengere), Chapungu v Dynamos (Ascot), Triangle v Ruwa (Chishamiso),
Tomorrow: Dongo Sawmill v Flame Lily (Vengere), Hwange v Tsholotsho (Colliery), Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Wha Wha v Dynamos (Ascot).
Online Reporter