Highlanders to resume talks after holidays

. Raymond Jaravaza
HIGHLANDERS has suspended talks to renew contracts of playersA� whose relationship with the team officially comes to an end on Sunday.

Notable senior players such as captain Felix Chindungwe, Rahman Kutsanzira, Douglas Sibanda, veteran striker Ralph Matema, defenders Tendai Ngulube and Honest Moyo and goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni are the soon to be out of contract players.

Only Erick Mudzingwa, Simon Munawa and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda have signed new contracts.

a�?We tabled individual offers for each player to take a look at and expected them to have signed before we closed our offices for the holidays but that did not happen.

a�?We find ourselves in an unfortunate situation where we will start the new year with a number of players out of contracts but Ia��m confident the players will extend their stay with us,a�? said Bosso acting chairman Modern Ngwenya.

He, however, conceded that the club finds itself at the risk of losing players as other teams could easily move in with better deals.

a�?We have players like Rahman (Kutsanzira) whose profile keeps rising and he could be lured to other teams but at the same time we remain confident that the deal we offered him will keep him at Highlanders,a�? he said.

Central defender Tendai Ndlovu, who travelled with the Warriors for a friendly match against Ivory Coast, has a running contract with Highlanders while 2016 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year finalist Peter Muduhwa extended his stay by two years.

Young attacking midfielder Godfrey Makaruse and striker Kasimero Chimbadzwa will be free agents after December 31.

Players with running contracts include Castle Lager Rookie of the Year Prince Dube, defenders Ndlovu and Benson Phiri as well as midfielders King Nadolo, Brian Banda, Allen Gahadzikwa, Adrian Silla, and goalkeeper Prosper Matutu.

Bukhosi Ncube, Thembalethu Mthunzi, McCarthy Dube and Nkosana Ndlovu still have running contracts with the Bulawayo giants.

Highlanders will not be holding trials next year but head coach Erol Akbay has instead opted to invite players he is interested in for assessments.

Talks will resume in the second week of January.