adminAugustine Hwata Sports Reporter
IN the next 48 hours, Zimbabwe international midfielder Devon Chafa will complete a six-month ban imposed on him by Fifa for taking a prohibited substance. On Friday, Chafa will end his ban and is likely to be at the National Sports Stadium the following day to cheer Dynamos when they take on AS Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo in an African Champions League first round, first leg tie.
Chafa could, as well, have been part of the Dynamos team but cruel fate had it that he unknowingly took a dosage of prednisone ahead of Zimbabwe’s Fifa World Cup qualifier against Egypt at the National Sports Stadium on June 9, 2013.
Fifa provisionally suspended Chafa for a 30-day period in August, before extending the ban by another five months to make an effective six months.
Chafa’s manager, Gibson Mahachi, said the player had overcome the setback brought by the suspension.
Chafa does not have a contract with Dynamos but his handlers DC Academy would prefer to get another deal with the Harare giants than Premiership rivals FC Platinum, who dangled US$20 000 as a signing-on fee for the midfielder to join them.
He turned them down saying there was more to his football career than just a one-off cash payment. FC Platinum have already taken on board Gift Bello who played with Chafa at Kiglon and Dynamos. Mahachi yesterday said they could be reaching an agreement with Dynamos by the end of this week.
“We are finalising the negotiations with Dynamos and, hopefully, by the end of this week, there could be a deal,” said Mahachi.
While Fifa suspended Chafa from training and playing in all types of matches, the midfielder had to find other ways to remain in good shape.
“He was doing some individual workouts and at times we had to send a personal trainer for him. So the ban took a bit of a knock on him but he has managed get over it and at times we even laugh over it.
“I think he is a stronger person now and he understands that the ban was not his fault but at the same time ignorance is not a defence,” said Mahachi.
Chafa was being monitored by South African giants Orlando Pirates and could have been part of the team at the African Nations Championship in South Africa but all that was blown into pieces as he became the first local footballer to be suspended for a doping offence.
Mahachi is confident that Chafa will retain the drive to re-establish his place at Dynamos and, hopefully, in the Warriors squad.
“Most of the period he missed was the off-season and, maybe, the pre-season preparations. During the time he was away, there were no major changes at Dynamos and I hope he fits into the system again,” said Mahachi. Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa has included Chafa in his Champions League squad and said he will need to assess the player on his return to training, hopefully, on Monday.
“When Devon returns, we will have a chance to asses him until such a time that he is fit and can be considered,” said Pasuwa.
“He has been training on his own and might be fit but I think he still needs game time.” During his absence Pasuwa has been using Stephen Alimenda and highly-rated newboy Walter Mukanga as the defensive link.
Online Reporter