Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda and Blessing Malinganiza
MUNASHE GARANANGA’s arrival at Scottish Premiership football side Hibernian is the topical issue on the club’s website.
The 25-year-old Zimbabwe centre-back completed a Deadline Day six-month loan move from Danish Superliga holders FC Copenhagen on Monday night, becoming Hibernian’s sixth signing of the January transfer window.
His Warriors captain Marvellous Nakamba was also on the move on deadline day, with the midfielder joining Eng-lish Championship basement side Sheffield Wednesday and ending his Luton Town tenure.
In the Scottish Premiership, Garananga will rub shoulders with fellow Zimbabwean international and Motherwell hot-shot Tawanda Maswanhise.
Garananga’s arrival has been greeted with both optimism and enthusiasm on the part of the club’s technical department.
Munashe Garananga
The Warriors defender brings a lot of value at Hibbs, as he boasts several appearances in both the UEFA Champions and Europa League competitions.
Garananga has also been capped 17 times by Zimbabwe and made two appearances at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco last December.
Hibernian view Garananga as a fast-rising defender with the potential of helping their cause in the Scottish Premiership.
Hibbs sit fifth on the current log standings, with 36 points from 24 matches and a massive 18 points behind log leaders Hearts.
However, they can still fancy their chances of qualifying for the UEFA Conference League, reserved for teams that finish third and fourth.
Hibernian are already out of the Scottish Cup whose winners represent Scotland in the Europa League.
Hibbs’ coach, David Gray, has been heaping praises on Garananga, describing him as a “quick, aggressive centre-back who is comfortable in possession and playing out from the back”.
Simply calling him “Gara”, Gray looks like someone who has been tracking the Zimbabwean defender for a long time.
“I am pleased to add a player of Gara’s quality to the squad on Deadline Day.
“He’s got some fantastic attributes which will stand him in good stead for this league.
“I am looking forward to him joining the group, and he is another strong addition to the team,” Gray was quoted on Hibernian’s website yesterday morning.
Hibernian Sporting Director Malky Mackay, a former Scotland player who also coached several clubs in the English Championship after retiring, has also been talking up Garananga’s arrival at Hibbs.
“We are delighted to be able to bring in an international player of Gara’s calibre from such an established club.
“I would like to thank Sporting Director, Nils Koppens, and all at FC Copenhagen who were involved in a very amicable and smooth deal.
“It was important for us that we brought another experienced player to the Club in this window, and we are all looking forward to watching him in action between now and the end of the season,” Mackay said.
Garananga is set to get more game time at Hibernian, which should be a plus for Zimbabwe.
Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Garananga has played just 119 minutes in FC Copenhagen’s last five encounters.
The 25-year-old Prince Edward Academy product is slowly becoming a key figure for the Warriors who made a sixth appearance at AFCON last December.
With Gerald Takwara ageing and Teenage Hadebe reaching the twilight zone, it is widely believed Garananga will soon take over as the central figure at the heart of Zimbabwe’s defence.
Some are already looking forward to a centre-back partnership between Garananga and Brendan Galloway.
Nakamba positive about
Wednesday move
Nakamba swapped Luton Town for Sheffield Wednesday, completing a dramatic deadline day move on Monday.
He told Zimpapers Sports Hub from his England base that he feels the move is positive for his career.
The Warriors midfielder was once a key figure at Luton as they won promotion back to the Premiership before their sensational collapse over the last two seasons. Nakamba joins a Wednesday side anchored at the foot of the English Championship following a massive 18-point deduction.
He penned a short-term deal until the end of the season but is optimistic despite his new club’s challenges.
“My conversation with the manager was very positive,” Nakamba said, referring to Wednesday’s boss Danny Rohl.
