adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS Dynamos yesterday confirmed that injury-prone striker Francisco Zekumbawira will be returning to Hwange after he was deregistered from the squad together with Allan Tavarwisa and Byron Madzokere to make way for the club’s new signings. Zekumbawira joined the Harare giants on a season’s loan at the beginning of the year but will not be able to complete his term after failing to live to the pre-season hype during the six months that were dogged by injuries.
Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha said his club decided to release the forward midway through his contract because he has not been able to feature regularly during the campaign as DeMbare seek to defend the title they won for the last two seasons.
“Zekumbawira is going back to Hwange. It’s unfortunate he was supposed to be here for one year, but if you look at it, he has not featured much in the league games since the beginning of the season.
“We felt that we needed to be fair with him and that if we give him the opportunity to go back to Hwange he might probably be able to get himself up. We have also de-registered Allan because it appears we have too many strikers,” said Chikengezha.
With Zekumbawira and Tavarwisa now struck off the 30-member squad, DeMbare will now have to place their hopes on Washington Pakamisa, Farai Mupasiri, Clive Kawinga, Patrick Khumbula and returning forward Benjamin Marere.
DeMbare have made use of the mid-season transfer window and registered four new players who include former CAPS United defender Oscar Machapa, ex-Eagles and Black Leopards man Victor Kamhuka, Marere and Milton Makopa who is returning from a long lay-off with injury and illness.
Dynamos have also promoted defender Blessing Moyo from their junior ranks. Zekumbawira, Tavarwisa, Madzokere and Congolese midfielder Jeremy Mumbere, who was also registered at the beginning of the year in the hope of reaching a deal, have been axed.
But as it turned out, the club had wasted the slot as they failed to reach an agreement with the former St. Eloi Lupopo man who has since returned home to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Chikengezha said they are hoping to give Madzokere time to get specialist treatment for his recurrent back problem before considering him again next season. Madzokere has a three-year contract with Dynamos which ends in 2016.
“He is our player and we wouldn’t want to expose him to strenuous conditions where he might aggravate his injury. Back injury is quite a tricky problem and we would want him to get proper treatment and time to recover fully. We will probably send him for specialist treatment outside the country.
“But we are happy Makopa has fully recovered. According to the medical report that we got from the doctors he is now fit to play. We also have medical reports for all the new players joining us and it looks satisfactory,” said Chikengezha. The mid-season transfer window closed midnight and officials from the Premier Soccer League said there has not been much activity on the market. CAPS United confirmed the registration of their prodigal son Leonard Tsipa who was re-engaged at the beginning of the year. Tsipa had been loaned out to Masvingo United to get game time before coming to add experience in the side’s rebuilding exercise.
Makepekepe also signed young Malawian forward Gerald Phiri, leftback Munashe Chinembaza from Aces Youth Academy, Benson Maglazi and former Mwenezana striker Hardmi Muchiso.
Online Reporter