Mahachi on a mission

Ricky Zililo  Sports Reporter
CHICKEN Inn’s diminutive midfielder and Castle Lager 2013 Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up Kudakwashe Mahachi wants to dominate local football and become one of the best players the country has ever seen.
The ginger-haired attacking midfielder who won the 2012 Rookie of the Year award and was also voted among the country’s best 11 was the only player from last season’s finalists to make it for the second year running.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Soccer Star of the Year banquet in Harare on Friday night, Mahachi who is hoping to make a career enhancing move to Mamelodi Sundowns, said the best is yet to come from him.

“I am happy that I have once again received an individual award in the form of being second runner-up and I am grateful to those who contributed towards me being a better player. Obviously, after being on the calendar for two successive years a lot will be expected from me and to be honest, I won’t take my foot off the pedal. I am still young and can develop into a better player. I will continue working hard to make sure that if I am around in the local Premiership next season, I help my team get trophies and maybe I may as well as be on the calendar again,” said Mahachi.

Champions Dynamos are keen on signing the player who said he has directed his energy at getting the national team.
“Obviously there is Chan coming and I want to be part of the squad which means all my concentration now is on working hard to make sure that when the final team for South Africa is announced I am part of it. About my future, at the moment I am waiting for Mamelodi Sundowns to respond and if the deal fails, I will take it from there,” said Mahachi.

Chicken Inn is eager to retain Mahachi.
Other soccer stars keeping their fingers crossed in anticipation of possible moves to Africa’s richest league, Absa Premiership of South Africa are former 2010 Soccer Star of the Year Charles Sibanda and goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya.

Both players’ contracts with their clubs expire at the end of the month.
Sibanda returned to the country from a week-long trial stint at SuperSport and said he is leaving FC Platinum.
“I was at SuperSport for a week and they said they will let me know about their decision soon. It is every player’s dream to play outside the country at a better league and I am hoping to make a break in South Africa. About my contract at FC Platinum, it is coming to an end and they have been good to me for the last three years but I think it is the right time for me to move on to face new challenges,” said Sibanda.

He has been linked with a possible move to Highlanders and this publication has it on good authority that the Bulawayo giants approached the player.

Sibanda could not shed any light on his Highlanders links.
“If I don’t move to South Africa I would like to come back home (Bulawayo),” that’s all Sibanda could say.
With the striker making public his desire to play for a Bulawayo club, he might also consider re-uniting with former Motor Action coach Joey Antipas who has settled well at Chicken Inn.

Meanwhile, Diya who won admiration from Highlanders faithfuls in the just ended season, will extend his stay at Bosso if he fails to make the grade at South Africa’s Golden Arrows.

“I have had a great stay at Bosso and I’m not looking at moving to any other club locally. Highlanders have provided a warm home for me and my career has developed at Bosso so if Golden Arrows who I was training with don’t respond favourably, I am staying put at Highlanders,” said Diya.

Just like Sibanda and Mahachi, Diya has been named in Warriors’ Chan provisional squad.