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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
TWO former Highlanders defenders Hloniphani Ndebele and Ricky Sibiya and an Orlando Pirates Academy player Thembinkosi Ncube have been trying their luck with the Bulawayo giants this week.The trio will know their fate this afternoon.
Besides the trio, there has also been a number of players trying their luck with Highlanders since the opening of the transfer-window on Tuesday.
The Bulawayo giants are on record saying they are in the hunt for a natural right back and a striker as they bid to beef up their squad during this second transfer-window.
Ndebele, a Bosso junior and Sibiya formerly with Chapungu, have been playing in Swaziland. Both of them are comfortable on the right side of the defence where Highlanders have been having headaches since last year with the coaches rotating Lawson Nkomo, Bruce Tshuma, Erick Mudzingwa and Simon Munawa. This season Munawa has been playing as a right back and on more than one occasion Highlanders have been punished from the right back position.
Young Ncube is an attacking left link.
“The guys have been training and we shall be making a decision by Friday (today) and then inform the executive during our weekly Monday meeting,” said Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu.
He said there are certain attributes which they have been looking at other than just being able to play football.
“What we don’t want is to hold on to a player until the final days of the window. We need to give them time to go and try their luck elsewhere if their system of play does not fit with ours,” said Kaindu.
However, there is a huge possibility that Ndebele and Ncube could make the grade with sources saying Sibiya’s biggest weakness was his lack of fitness and advanced age. He is reported to have failed an intensive 10-round drill set by coach Kaindu on Wednesday.
“The coach demanded that we finish the 10 round drill inside six minutes and after only three rounds, Sibiya pulled out while Fa (Ndebele) managed to finish although after that he also told us that he was not as fit as he would want to,” said one Highlanders player.
Ndebele was played as a defender, anchorman, shadow striker and gunman. He could plug a number of problems for the club if signed and while in Swaziland he was rated among the best foreigners.
The PSL season enters its home straight in two weeks time where the fitness and endurance of the players will be necessary.
Besides the 15 league matches that will be left, there is another eight potential games if the team goes all the way to the final of the two cup games, the returning Chibuku Super Cup and the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
derick.khumalo