Matawu linked to Hwange

Senior Sports Reporter
MOTOR Action midfielder and former Highlanders and FC Platinum player Louis Matawu is reportedly on his way to Hwange in a move likely to boost the coal miners’ chances of rising from poor performance in the league so far. Matawu, an exciting player who can play as a wing or central attacking midfielder is a veteran of many battles despite living in the shadow of his brother Clemence Matawu who returned to domestic football this season after a couple of years in Poland.

“The player has expressed his desire to join Hwange probably after noticing that his club, Motor Action are all but confirmed Division One candidates come next year,” said a source close to the player.

The Harare side, who ruled the roost in 2010 when they won the league title, are struggling not only on the pitch but even outside as reports indicate that all is not well in terms of finance.

The ship that Eric Rosen built seems to be sinking with players and even close associates likely to desert him. Long time confidante, Simon Jamanda was on Sunday seen in the company of Caps United owner Twine Phiri at Barbourfields Stadium despite the fact that Motor Action had a game on the same day in Harare.

Contacted for comment Hwange coach Nation Dube, who remains hopeful that his team will not be relegated, confirmed the Matawu talk but said the club was yet to officially engage the player.

“I have heard that the boy wants to join us but he is yet to officially inform us because we would want to understand a few things first about his contractual obligations,” said Dube whose team occupy the last relegation slot with just 17 points from 16 outings.

The former midfield general at the coalminers said they were indeed looking for players to beef up the team and said their priority at the moment was a goalkeeper and strikers.

Hwange has one natural striker in ageing Gilbert Zulu with the club sometimes being forced to push midfielders to the strikeforce position.

“If Gidza gets injured we are sometimes forced to push midfielders into that position and it’s naturally not a healthy set-up,” said Dube.

His team suffered a terrible loss last year when top attacking midfielder Rodwell Chinyengetere broke his leg in two places and although on the road to full recovery, Dube said they could not risk playing him this season.

“Chinyengetere is making steady progress but I think it will be rather risky to throw him onto the deep end when he has not played since the beginning of the season.

“We might take him to our Division One side to get some game time,” he said.

Dube said he will not make wholesome changes to the team that they literally built from scratch after losing quite a number of players last season since the players were beginning to understand each other.

“There has been talk that Hwange under its ‘local content campaign’ chased away players from other towns which is not true. All we were saying was that we want players who will be with the team for long  and the team we have now is also for the future which is why I am saying we will not tamper with it much,” said Dube who together with Brian Njobvu have managed to put together an exciting group of players who despite lack of consistency have the ability to rise. If they manage to avoid the chop, like what Dube says, they are without doubt a team to watch come next year.

Meanwhile, another mining side, How Mine are on the hunt for five players during the transfer-window with highly placed sources saying experienced goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura is training with the club.

Head coach, Philani Mabhena who should be credited with building such a force, said while he might not confirm the presence of Mazarura, they were looking for an experienced goalkeeper, a central defender, central attacking midfielder and two strikers.

“I need an experienced defender and four in-field players.This means we might have to offload some of the players we have but that is subject to us getting our targets,” said Mabhena.

There are reports too that former FC Platinum hardman Norman Togara who worked with Mabhena at the Zvishavane side, could be heading to How Mine.