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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Acting Sports Editor
REIGNING Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Dynamos have revealed that they never approached Masimba Mambare for his services but instead the player approached them well before the end of last season.
The club however denied any links with another Highlanders player Milton Ncube.
The 2012 Soccer Star of the Year finalist joined The Glamour Boys on a three-year deal on Monday, ending a two-year stint with Dynamos’ bitter rivals Highlanders.
The move has sparked a fierce debate among Highlanders supporters with some blaming the player, others blaming the executive.
“We never approached the boy but instead he approached us. He said his contract was expiring at the end of the year (last year) and we said if he was coming as a free man why not have him,” said Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa.
“As for Milton, we know that his contract has also expired but we have not approached him unless he comes to us but at the moment there is nothing.”
Mambare last year denied any links with the Harare giants and Highlanders reportedly offered him a three-year contract which he had promised to sign after the Africa Nations Championship (Chan) finals in South Africa.
He was at one time the target of the boo boys last season who felt that he was under-performing.
His surprise move has however, rudely exposed the Highlanders executive who will stand accused of failing to tie down their players well in advance.
Fifa statutes allow clubs to enter into pre-contract talks with players who would be having six months remaining in their contracts.
With Highlanders set to hold their traditional annual general meeting on January 26, the issue is likely to take centre stage.
“The problem is that this executive is sometimes over-glorified yet making costly mistakes to the team. People might criticise Mambare but he is a professional footballer who has a family to feed. Why did they have to wait until his contract expired?
“It’s like we never learn from the past and the honest truth is that we risk losing all the players whose contracts expired unless allegiance to the club on the part of the players comes in,” said a Highlanders supporter Mthunzi Ndlovu.
Mambare became the fifth off-season signing for Dynamos who beefed up their squad with former Caps United and Ajax Cape Town’s Tafadzwa Rusike, holding midfielder Walter Mukanga (Triangle), defender Themba Ndlovu (Buffaloes) and Ronald Chitiyo who was relegated with Monomotapa last season.
Meanwhile, information reaching Chronicle Sport is that Highlanders have agreed terms with 2010 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year Charles Sibanda and 2013 finalist Erick Chipeta.
Both players are with the national team for the Chan finals in South Africa.
“The club does not want to make it official yet, especially with Chipeta because of the good relations they have with Hwange but the truth is that Chipeta has since agreed personal terms with Highlanders and to my understanding it’s a two-year deal,” said the source.
Chipeta has a running contract with Hwange that expires at the end of the year.
Online Reporter