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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS yesterday completed the loan signing of Kudakwashe Mahachi from Mamelodi Sundowns, as exclusively revealed by Chronicle Sports on February 1.
The Bulawayo club emphasised their ambition by parading several new signings at their training yesterday as coach Kelvin Kaindu signalled his intent to stop Dynamos’ dominance.
Mahachi — presently Zimbabwe’s most exciting prospect — trained with his new teammates at White City Stadium yesterday including new arrivals, striker Charles Sibanda, defender Felix Chindungwe, midfielders Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni and Valentine Ndaba as well as left back Khumbulani Banda and goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni.
The winger will join Highlanders for an initial period of four months until June.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ communications co-ordinator Thulani Thuswa said: “As you know Mahachi is a Mamelodi Sundowns player and the club has been communicating with Highlanders FC who showed interest in taking the player on loan.
“Mamelodi Sundowns gave the player authority to train with Highlanders . . .Right now we’re working on relevant paperwork so that the player is allowed to be registered for competitions in Zimbabwe.”
Speaking after his first training session, Mahachi a product of the Highlanders juniors, said: “I’m looking forward to a wonderful stay at Highlanders. I was groomed at Bosso and there is no better way of saying farewell to Zimbabwean football than playing for my boyhood team.”
Mahachi said he was impressed with the quality of Highlanders’ new recruits, adding: “If we work together as players and fight for each other, then we’ll be the team to beat.
“My wish is to leave Highlanders in a commanding position for the league title and other competitions that we’ll play before I return to Sundowns.”
Kaindu could not hide his delight after watching Mahachi train in club colours with half a dozen new recruits.
“Mahachi trained with us and his level of commitment as well as his determination is awesome,” Kaindu told Chronicle Sports.
“It’s great to have a player like him in your squad and we intend to get the best out of him during his stay. I’m sure he can add value to the club during his short stint.”
The Zambian expatriate said good corporate governance and relationship between club officials, sponsors, supporters, players and the technical team had contributed to Highlanders being able to attract some of the best players in the country.
“As for assembling the squad, we’re almost there but we’ll not be disclosing the remaining slots. I thank God’s grace which has led to Highlanders attracting good players and the challenge now is to get the guys gelling.
“I’m happy with how the old players have embraced new guys and it is such unity of purpose that leads to great things and God willing, it shall be well.”
Mahachi played for Chicken Inn last season on loan from Bantu Rovers, who sold him to Sundowns after he shone in the African Championship hosted by South Africa last month.
Chicken Inn had written to Sundowns expressing their wish to have Mahachi on loan, and reigning Premier League champions, Dynamos, had also been linked but Highlanders used their firm relationship with Sundowns nurtured during the Brazilians’ tour of Zimbabwe last year to get their man.
The South Africans were said to have been impressed by the level of professionalism exhibited by the club. Highlanders were the only club to share gate takings with Sundowns, with CAPS United and Dynamos failing to meet that obligation — something that appeared to irk the Brazilians.
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