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Bundesliga side Hoffenheim after signing a five-year deal on Wednesday night.
The deal, worth around R16 million, is the biggest transfer transaction conducted by Kaizer Chiefs in the history of the Johannesburg club.
The German club immediately announced that they believe they had captured one of the brightest talents in world football today and were confident he will be a success story in Europe.
Chiefs’ coach Vladimir Vermezovic said he had always known that Musona was destined for Europe since the first day that he saw the Zimbabwean sensation.
The deal was confirmed yesterday by both Chiefs and the German club.
The 21-year-old striker, dubbed the best thing to happen to Zimbabwean football since Peter Ndlovu, will follow in the footpath of his countryman, George Mbwando, who played in the German top-flight.
A number of Zimbabweans have played in the German lower leagues.
Given that Musona is still under-23, it means that Aces Youth Academy and his former school, Lord Malvern, are entitled to payments from the R16 million deal under Fifa’s statutes for the part they played in his development.
Chiefs’ football manager, Bobby Motaung, dismissed speculation that Musona will be loaned to the Amakhosi for a year as part of the deal.
“It is not a loan. It is a fully signed contract of five years. It is confirmed and we will miss him at Kaizer Chiefs,” said Motaung.
“We want to wish him all the best . . . we give him all our blessings. Musona is going as soon as he gets his visa.”
Hoffenheim’s sports director Ernst Tanner, who flew into Johannesburg to seal the deal, believes the 21-year-old Zimbabwean-born striker will make the grade in Europe.
“What we have seen is astonishing,” he says.
Musona’s parting word was that he is grateful to the Amakhosi for the good treatment he enjoyed at the club.
“Khosi for Life . . . I hope one day I will be back playing for the team.
“I can’t forget where I came from.
“I am privileged and would like to thank Chiefs for treating me so well in my time here.”
Chiefs’ Serbian coach Vermezovic arrived at the club at the same time as Musona in June 2009 and has worked with the 21-year-old in all his time in South Africa.
“Since Musona came here, I knew that he deserves what he has gotten now,” said Vermezovic.
“Musona is a smart guy who I have a lot of belief in and I am definite that he will be successful in Europe.
“Just as much as I wish him well as he goes, we will miss him.”
Tanner, had joy written all over his face about their latest acquisition.
“We are happy to have signed a new striker who we have been following for some time.
“He is a good person who I wish all the best as he integrates into the Germany culture. I believe that he will be a success,” said Tanner.
Nigel Munyati, from the Aces Youth Academy, who play in the third tier league in Zimbabwe where Musona was groomed, was also on hand to wish the player well.
“We helped him into being the player that he is today and we are delighted that our efforts have been fruitful,” said Munyati.
“I will also want to pay tribute to Bobby Motaung because he had foresight when he identified Musona after seeing him playing in a First Division match back home.
“I believe the route that Musona has taken will inspire other boys.”
With the five-year deal that Musona has signed, he will rise into being the leading light in the Zimbabwean attack that desperately needs him in their tricky quest to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals.
There were fears that Musona’s move to Hoffenheim would collapse with reports suggesting that Kaizer Chiefs were holding out for a bigger transfer fee.
But when Hoffeinheim sent one of their top officials into Johannesburg this week, to try and seal the deal, it became a question of when, rather than if, the transaction would be completed.
Chiefs also appeared to give indicators that Musona would be leaving when they signed Bafana Bafana striker Bernard Parker, who will certainly come as a direct replacement for the Zimbabwean ace. – KickOff.
Online Reporter