D-Day for Cuthbert Malajila

indications that Tunisian giants Club Africain have convened a meeting to decide the player’s future.
Malajila has not seen any action since fighting broke out in Libya in February.
The former Chapungu, Highlanders and Dynamos striker had been on a six-month loan to Libyan top-flight side Al Akhdar with the loan deal expiring on June 30.
Malajila signed a three-year contract with Club Africain in August last year, becoming the first Zimbabwean to play in the North African country.
But more than two weeks after he reverted to being a Club Africain player, Malajila has remained holed up in Harare and has resorted to often training with his former club Dynamos to keep fit as he awaits his “judgment day”.
Dynamos, who are struggling for a trusted gunslinger in their attack, are understood to have set their sights on re-engaging Malajila before the mid-season transfer window closes on July 31.
The blunt DeMbare attack – which is being fronted by rookies Patrick Khumbula, Roderick Mutuma and Martin Vengesayi – once again fired blanks at Luveve on Saturday when the third-placed Harare giants were restricted to a 0-0 draw in a Premiership tie by newboys Chicken Inn.
That result has put more pressure on Dynamos to try and find an experienced striker in the mould of Malajila with the new DeMbare management led by Kenny Mubaiwa, believed to be looking at tabling an offer for the Warriors forward.
But Malajila’s manager Gibson Mahachi said yesterday Dynamos and any other club that may be interested in Malajila would have to wait for Club Africain to make their decision.
Mahachi said there was very little that could be done before the Tunisians to whom the player is still contracted, had made a firm decision on Malajila’s status.
“We should have a clear position by tomorrow night because there is a meeting that is going to take place tomorrow in Tunisia.
“The Tunisians are the ones making a decision first before we do . . . they will decide whether they want him back in Tunis or whether they are going to loan him out again.
“They might decide to free him from his contract in which case he becomes a free agent but, like I said, we just have to wait because there is a new coach and a new club president at Club Africain and all those changes took place while Cuthbert was on loan so we have to hear what the new dispensation have to say about him,” Mahachi said.
Former Tunisia national coach Faouzi Benzarti was named the new Club Africain coach in May, signing a two-year contract with the club to replace Kais Yacoubi who was shown the door after the Beb Jedid outfit where eliminated from the African Champions League by Edward Sadomba’s Sudanese side Al Hilal.
After their elimination from the Champions League, Club Africain will now try to salvage some lost pride by playing in the second tier Confederation Cup.
Mahachi said it was only after Club Africain had communicated their decision on Malajila that the player and his management would also make their move on the striker’s future.
“After tomorrow’s decision we will decide on our next move, we will see the offers and opportunities depending on his status because it will obviously be different if he is to be loaned out or if he is to be released.
“So at the moment I cannot say whether he will return to Dynamos or whether he might go somewhere else,” Mahachi said.
Malajila’s inactivity has meant that he has failed to stake a claim in the Warriors squad that is involved in the qualifiers for the 2012 African Cup of Nations finals.
But the lanky forward has not made a secret of his wish to be a regular feature in coach Norman Mapeza’s side and has been patiently waiting for his chance.
Malajila last made it into the Warriors side in March, albeit as a last minute call-up after the Warriors had been decimated by injuries to Knowledge Musona and Quincy Antipas ahead of their trip to Bamako, Mali for a Group A clash.
Zimbabwe duly lost that match 1-0 as Malajila had to contend with a place on the bench for the entire 90 minutes.