admin
HIGHLANDERS FC striker Knox Mutizwa has reportedly signed up for South Africa Premiership side Bidvest Wits after the two clubs agreed on a transfer fee for the player who will only make his move in July.
Mutizwa agreed personal terms with Wits after negotiations between his agent Gibson Mahachi which were concluded last Wednesday.
Highlanders’ chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede confirmed that the 22-year-old 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Golden Boot winner will be joining Wits in July.
Gumede could not disclose what Highlanders will get for the striker saying that was private information. He, however, said Wits had asked that the player attend the club’s training for an undisclosed number of days every month starting in March.
“Highlanders and Wits have agreed on a transfer fee for Knox Mutizwa, he is with us until June, he goes to Wits in July. The effective date of his transfer is mid-season, for now he is a Highlanders player.
“They have requested that he goes to train with them every month. I cannot disclose the transfer fee, that is confidential and nothing has come to us from Wits in terms of money,’’ said Gumede.
Mahachi said the player had signed a one year plus a two years option. He explained that the two year option had already been negotiated and the figures have already been agreed on.
On why the deal took so long to be concluded, Mahachi made it clear that there was no hurry since it was known from the start when Mutizwa went for trials that he was only joining Wits in July if he made the grade.
“Knox Mutizwa effectively becomes a Wits player on 1 July. There was never any rush for this deal to be concluded because we knew from the beginning that Knox is only going in July,’’ said Mahachi.
The transfer fee agreed by Highlanders and Wits for Mutizwa is believed to be slightly less than the $100 000 that Bosso were asking for from the Students.
Sources have put the figure at $80 000, the same amount that Chicken Inn got when they sold striker Tendai Ndoro to Mpumalanga Black Aces in 2013.
It is double the transfer fee Highlanders received for the sale of Thomas Chideu to Ajax Cape Town last year. It is understood Wits will pay a certain portion of the transfer fee in the coming weeks and then clear the balance when Mutizwa secures a work permit and international clearance to move to South Africa in July.
The Warriors striker impressed Wits coach Gavin Hunt when he twice went for trials at the Johannesburg-based club in December last year. Between those two assessments, he inspired Highlanders to the Easycall Cup glory, first scoring in a 2-1 victory over Dynamos in the semi-finals and then captained Bosso to a 1-0 victory over Chicken Inn, their first silverware since winning the Mbada Diamonds Cup in 2013.
Online Reporter