Deco in South Africa for trials

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS and Chicken Inn combative midfielder Danny Phiri sneaked out of the country on Sunday for a 10-day trial period with ambitious South African lower league side FC Cape Town. The much sought-after midfielder left soon after the Warriors’ embarrassing exit from the Africa Nations Cup qualifiers at the hands of Tanzania in which they were held to a 2-2 draw to bow out on 3-2 aggregate.

“He is in South Africa as we speak. FC Cape Town, even though they are in the National First Division, are an ambitious side owned by a former Ajax Cape Town director,” said a source.

The source also said the club was eyeing a ticket to the Absa Premiership and has a sound sponsorship package.
Deco might not be the only high profile player to play for them this season.

FC Cape Town, nicknamed African Beasts, is based in Parow suburb in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, former Warriors skipper Benjani Mwaruwari has been offloaded by Wits while Warriors striker and former Chicken Inn player Tendai Ndoro will be staying put at his Absa Premiership side in South Africa, Mpumalanga Black Aces.

Wits announced that it will not be renewing Mawaruwari’s contract upon expiry before the start of the 2014/15 season.
There has been reports that Ndoro, the reigning Zimbabwe Castle Lager Premiership top marksman, who was also part of the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year finalists last season, will be heading for the United Kingdom for trials with newly promoted Barclays Premiership side Crystal Palace and Olympiakos in Greece.

In a statement, the South African side, coached by former Bafana Bafana coach who led the national side to their maiden Africa Nations Cup in 1996, said those reports were untrue and the player was in fact staying put.

“The club wishes to put it on record that all the transfer rumours linking Ndoro with an Aces’ exit are premature and unfounded and should be treated as mere gossip.
“Although we can confirm there has been an interest in the player locally, without revealing any names, Ndoro will be staying put with AmaZayoni,” said the club in a statement posted on its official website.

The club said it will not release any player until June 23 when the squad returns for pre-season training and camp. The entire squad will travel to Nelspruit on June 26 for a physically intensive training camp.

There seems to be no room also for Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya after Amazayoni said they will be inviting national team players from five countries for trials during the pre-season camp.

“We can confirm that we will be inviting national team players from Cameroon, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique for trials during the pre-season for assessment with the hope of sealing a few deals,” said the statement.

Diya’s teammate at Highlanders Peter ‘Rio’ Moyo has already put pen to paper although the length of the deal is still unknown with the club only saying the talented national team midfielder has signed a “long term contract.”