Monaco want Mahachi

Lawrence Moyo in CAPE TOWN and Augustine Hwata in HARARE
ZIMBABWE winger Kuda Mahachi is wanted by French giants Monaco, who sent a representative to Cape Town to sign the forward yesterday, even though he has committed himself to a five-year deal at Mamelodi Sundowns. Mahachi signed a pre-contract with Sundowns for a US$110 000 transfer from Bantu Rovers, his parent club in Zimbabwe owned by Methembe Ndlovu, but Monaco have come with highest stakes and are offering 1.2 million euros for the winger’s signature.
An official from the French club is in Cape Town to try and secure the deal.

Mahachi can only join Sundowns from June and reports have claimed that he will be loaned to Dynamos for the next six months but the arrival of the French side, on the big stage, is likely to change a lot of things.

South African football website Kick Off yesterday suggested that Mahachi could be loaned to Highlanders in the Zimbabwean Premiership until June although he may end up in France at the Stade Louis II.

Both Sundowns and Bantu Rovers are keeping the contents of the pre-contract under the lid as Monaco try to lure the player.
Media reports from South Africa yesterday suggested that Sundowns will not be able to use the slippery winger until June since they have exhausted their foreign quota of players for now.

Bantu Rovers director Ndlovu yesterday referred questions on Mahachi’s current status to their club secretary Wilbert Sibanda.
“I am not allowed to comment on behalf of Bantu Rovers on these issues,” said Ndlovu.

Sibanda could not be reached on his mobile phone with speculation high that he could be in South African sorting out a deal for Mahachi.
The forward has been a subject of so much speculation since arriving in Cape Town at the start of January but Mahachi says he has no idea where he will be going next.
“Many teams have approached me but I will only get guidance from my manager, he knows all that’s happening .

“As for now I am a Bantu Rovers player and I haven’t been told of anything that changes my status.
“Now that the tournament is over, I will hear from Methembe Ndlovu on the way forward. Even on Mamelodi Sundowns I don’t know where I stand until I engage the key people involved in my playing career.”

Mahachi was at liberty yesterday to speak about the CHAN tournament and believes the Warriors owe it to the Cape Town supporters and the only way to thank them will be by beating Nigeria in a third-place play-off tie at the Cape Town Stadium today.

A curtain raiser to the final, the match kicks off at 5pm.
Mahachi has been one of the best players of the tournament and has won two man-of-the-match awards during the Warriors’ fairytale run.
Following the penalty shootout heartbreak against Libya on Wednesday, Mahachi believes only a third-place finish will do for the underdogs.

“We must please our fans in Cape Town, they have really supported the team and we are grateful for their support. Winning against Nigerian will be the best way to thank them. We should get third place,” he said.

Mahachi is however, aware of the threat posed by the tournament favourites who suffered a penalty shootout defeat to bitter rivals, Ghana in Wednesday’s other semi-final at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

“It is not going to be an easy game, far from it. Nigeria believed they would win the tournament and being knocked out in the semi-final was disappointing for them.
“So, they will obviously be all out to avenge that defeat by beating us. We are fully aware that it will be a big fight in a game that should have been the final.”
Looking back to Wednesday’s defeat, Mahachi rates the game as his worst in the tournament.

“It stands out as my worst game in the tournament. I never played to the best of my ability and even watching it on TV I see that I was not in the game.
“It was just a bad afternoon for me. I know I can do better than that and I promise to make amends when the next opportunity comes.

“For me my best game was actually the second (group) game against Uganda. Yes we did not score but I felt we did everything else okay and I feel I played my best,” said Mahachi.

He believes the Warriors’ success in the 2014 CHAN should be used as the launch pad for the 2015 AFCON qualifying campaign.
“When we left home very few people gave us a chance. It was so bad that even the supporters never expected us to go past the first round. Now we are playing for third place.
“We have done well and I think we now have the motivation to do well in the qualifiers for 2015 AFCON.

“I believe if we build around this team we will make it to the finals.”