Mukamba on Wits radar

latest trials with Wits.
The talented player was recently at the Braamfontein-based side for a second stint of assessment under coach Antonio Lopez Habas.

Official word from The Students camp is that Mukamba impressed during his trials with the team.
Wits’ team manager, George Mogotsi, yesterday revealed that the side could still pen a deal with Mukamba.

“For now the player has gone back home. There is a possibility that he will return. The boy can play.
“He plays the kind of football that we play. The boy has got a good technique and he is tall,” said Mogotsi.

Mukamba has just completed a season with Dynamos in the Zimbabwean Premier League.
The 20-year-old is hoping to clinch a deal with Wits where he would join up with countrymen, Thomas Sweswe and Tinashe Nengomasha.

DeMbare look certain to lose the player as they make frantic efforts to prepare their squad for next year’s Champions League campaign.

However, Mukamba’s negotiating team insists they are still waiting for official communication from the Johannesburg-based side as they are still to announce their decision on the player.

The creative midfielder was recently named Dynamos’ Player of the Year after scoring 15 goals as DeMbare completed the League and Cup double in the Zimbabwean Premier League.

DeMbare could also lose some of their key players like Partson Jaure, who is having trials at SuperSport, Farai Mupasiri, also on trials in South Africa and Roderick Mutuma reportedly a target of first Division side Dynamos.

Dynamos are facing a dilemma as they battle to beat tomorrow’s deadline as they are bring frustrated by local clubs in their hopes to beef up their squad.

The Harare giants are reportedly chasing the signatures of FC Platinum players Donald Ngoma and Allen Gahadzikwa, Russel Madamombe, Tawanda Nyamandwe, Aaron Katebe, Francisco Zvekumbawire and goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi.

Assistant coach Tichaona Diya however hopes they will be able to build a strong squad to compete in the Champions League.

“We are still discussing with the players. The executive has been helping us a lot in discussing the contracts of new and old players.

“Our wish is not to run around on the last minute. We would want to assemble a strong team that can play all the way to the finals of the tournament. That is our aim,” said Diya.

DeMbare were drawn in the preliminary round where they will face Lesotho Correctional Service. Their first real test will be in the first round with either Ettihad of Libya and Club Birzetin of Tunisia.

Meanwhile, former Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro is still club-hunting after he fell out of favour with Wits coach Habas this season.

The 30-year-old is one of the players that were deemed surplus to requirements at The Students following coach Lopez Habas’ arrival at the club.

A source close to the Zimbabwean player confirmed that Murambadoro has returned home and added that he intends to continue his professional career in the South African PSL.

“Murambadoro is looking for a club. He is in Zimbabwe at the moment although he is still having a contract with Wits. He is looking for a new club.

“He is training with CAPS United at the moment, but he won’t be signing with them.
“He is looking for a club in the PSL. He is a fantastic player who has played at some of the top tournaments,” said the source.

When contacted by The Herald yesterday, Murambadoro confirmed that he is currently club hunting but dismissed reports that he was back in Zimbabwe.

The former Warriors first-choice goalkeeper said he was looking at joining another South African Premiership side in June next year before the start of the 2013-2014 season.

“I’m still in South Africa and I still have a contract with Wits until June 2013.
“From January (next year) I can start looking for another team to join and as of now am just training getting myself back into shape.

“I am training here in Johannesburg but I have plans to come and join CAPS United for their pre-season training (in January) just to prepare myself in case I get a new club to play for before June next year,” Murambadoro said.

CAPS United chief executive, Maxwell Mironga, also expressed ignorance over Murambadoro’s presence at his club, saying they were currently on the off-season break and the big goalkeeper was not training with them.

“Energy is not training with us because we are currently on our off-season break. We will only resume training or start our preparations for the 2013 season in mid-January.

“Maybe he (Murambadoro) just told his friends in South Africa that he was going back home to Zimbabwe and will be training with CAPS United but we’ve not seen him because we are currently on our off-season break.

“In fact, I last saw him towards Zimbabwe’s African Cup of Nations final qualifying match against Angola in October,” Mironga said.

Murambadoro made his professional debut playing in the colours of CAPS United.
He has played for a number of clubs during his career, including the likes of Bnei Sakhnin FC of Israel and Mpumalanga Black Aces. — Laduma-Sports Reporter.