adminman being de-registered by South African Premiership giants Mamelodi Sundowns after suffering a long-term foot injury.
Mtizwa has struggled to force his way into the regular Sundowns side since arriving at Chloorkop in July last year with former CAPS United teammates Method Mwanjali and Nyasha Mushekwi.
Mushekwi turned on the style to win the club’s Golden Boot award while Mwanjali rose to become a regular feature in the Sundowns rearguard that won him the Most Consistent Player award.
He is also one of the club captains.
In his debut season, Mtizwa had to be content with either a place on the bench or on the terraces.
But just when he thought he would establish himself at the Brazilians, it has emerged that Mtizwa will be sidelined for the opening half of the 2011-12 season because of a broken metatarsal.
Mtizwa has a five-year contract with Sundowns but his second season at the club now looks to be bleak as he will spend time on the sidelines.
Yesterday, the big-spending South African giants agreed with the player and his management to have him de-registered from their Premiership list.
The move was made to pave the way for Sundowns to register another foreigner on their allotted PSL slots.
South African Premiership clubs can only use five foreigners in a season.
It had earlier thought that Mtziwa would be loaned out to make way for fellow Zimbabwean Simba Sithole after the rookie forward also joined Sundowns, ironically from CAPS United.
But before they reached an agreement yesterday, a storm had been brewing between Mtizwa’s management and Sundowns following a bid by the club to terminate the player’s contract.
The Brazilians had asked the player to sign a termination and mutual release agreement document, which was to be lodged to the PSL offices.
However, the document was silent on the welfare of the injured midfielder and disagreements ensued between the player’s manager Gibson Mahachi and the Sundowns administration. The matter
was only settled when Sundowns revealed that Mtizwa was still in their plans.
Sundowns Senior Legal and Commercial manager Yogesh Singh yesterday wrote to Mtizwa’s handlers Futbal Sports Management, committing themselves to the player’s future and advising that they are only working in guidance and abiding by the PSL rules and regulations.
“We indicated to you that we needed to de-register and I can confirm that you have asked for more information to ensure that his rights are protected.
“The point I made to you and I can confirm in writing now so that there can be no questions later.
“The rules dealing with foreign players registrations in so far is relevant read as follows:
- 30.2 No club would have more than five foreign players during the course of any particular season, even if previously registered, foreign players are de-registered during the course of the season.
- The league approaches the matter on the basis that all of those who are to remain registered or de-registered at the start of the season must declare upfront and a termination agreement provided to the league. That is what we need to do if we are to ensure that we have places for the foreigners who are likely to be fielded.
- I made the point to you that Lionel Mtizwa would not be prejudiced in any way. The head coach and the technical team have assessed Lionel and see him as an integral part of their plans (if he is fully recovered and match fit) going forward.
- We will continue to pay him as we have undertaken to do and we will assist him in his rehabilitation until he is fit to play. Unless and until he does, we will meet our obligations to him and you will have this letter available to you to ensure that his rights are protected in every respect,” wrote Singh.
Speaking to The Herald from his base in South Africa the former CAPS United midfielder narrated how he got injured and said he is set to go for another operation after he aggravated the injury when he prematurely resumed training when Sundowns began their pre season sessions.
“I got a fracture during a league match in May when I was trying to go into a tackle. I later felt pain and the doctors said I had broken a metatarsus and was later put in a moon boot.
“But the complications arose when I started training with the rest of the team during the preseason.
“I started feeling the pain again and had an X-ray, which revealed that I had cracked, and the specialists said I had prematurely started training.
“So I have to wear a moon boot for three weeks and if it doesn’t improve they said I will have another operation to remove the screw they had put in the first place and then they will try to hold the bone.
“And this should take at least three to four months to heal if they manage to operate but if I go for review and they say I no longer require the operation then maybe I would just need six weeks to heal.
“Right now they have instructed me not to do anything with the leg until they advise me because the last time it ended up being overloaded,” said Mtizwa.
The 27-year-old midfielder said it was heartbreaking to get injured when his career was beginning “to shape up after a slow start since joining the Absa Premiership last year together with Mwanjali and Mushekwi.
“It is so painful because last season I didn’t have a good season and at a time when I was starting to command a first team jersey I got injured. I am just trying not to think much about it and praying that I heal fast and resume my career.
“I have been having meetings with the club and the new coach was also there and assured me that I am still in his plans but I have to heal first. I am just spending time at home in Midrand with my family and going to matches when my team is playing,” said Mtizwa.
Sundowns were held to a 0-0 draw by Tapuwa Kapini’s AmaZulu in their opening league encounter at the weekend.
Until his injury, Mtizwa – who had been touted to be Esrom Nyandoro’s natural replacement at Sundowns – had regularly been called up for the Warriors.
Online Reporter