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Fungai Muderere
FAILURE to honour obligations to players has reportedly seen an exodus at Castle Lager Premier Soccer League returnees Bulawayo City.
Even the lure of playing in the topflight league seems not enough amid revelations that only eight regular players that include goalkeeper Kelvin Nyoni, Benson Phiri unheralded Lesley Lunga, Ntobeko Moyo and Zibusiso Sibanda were some of the few staying with Amakhosi.
“We have decided not to go back to Bulawayo City. We are owed lots of money from as far back as 2016. We are looking for opportunities elsewhere,” said one of the players who is leaving.
“We were compelled to make this painful decision. We saw it fit to look elsewhere because the feeling among the players is that we did a lot for Bulawayo City especially last year when we won the Southern Region Division One championship competing against Talen Vision, a club that greatly incentivised their players throughout the year,” added another incensed player on condition of anonymity.
Former Highlanders and FC Platinum defender Zephania Ngodzo and Canaan Nkomo are heading to Southern Region Division side Talen Vision.
Interestingly, City and Talen Vision were involved in a fierce battle for promotion last year. An impeccable source told B Metro Sport that dreadlocked midfielder Physwell Madhazi and injured Innocent Kutsanzira had also indicated that they were packing their bags.
Stocky and skillful Chris Samakwere and towering Darryl Nyandoro are on the verge of reuniting with their former coach at Bulawayo City, Try Ncube who has taken charge of Southern Region Division side Mosi Rovers.
Midfielder Thabani “Dubula” Goredema is also on the City departure lounge amid revelations by his close associates that he was still weighing offers from elsewhere.
However, the club’s head coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube is satisfied with his side’s pre-season preparations that have so far seen them assess veteran former AmaZulu and Monomotapa utility player James Phiri (39) and 2010 Soccer Star of the Year Charles Sibanda, whose contract with champions FC Platinum ended last December.
Ex-Quelaton, Bulawayo Chiefs and How Mine attacking midfielder Eddie Nkulungo, 18-year-old former Bantu Rovers player Mpumelelo Bhebhe, who was with City’s development side last season, Edward Halungu, formerly with Tsholotsho and goalkeeper Liberty Chirava, who was at Bulawayo Chiefs last season, are also training with City.
Former Dynamos striker King Nasama, who spent last season at ZPC Kariba, was also trying to impress Ncube and his lieutenants.
“When we started last week, we had over 80 players and now we are left with 40 after trimming. Everyone here is working hard to impress the technical team and this week we should be having the team that we will work with for the coming season,” said Ncube.
Their main sponsors, Bulawayo City Council, have reportedly set aside $11 million for funding Amakhosi, a move that has divided councillors and rate payers.
Nesisa Mpofu, the council senior public relations officer, indicated that last year $720 000 was allocated to Bulawayo City while this year, Government was still yet to give the green light on how council funds would be used.
“On average a disbursement of $60 000 was made each month totalling to $720 000 for the year 2019. The Council Budget for 2020 is awaiting Government approval,” Mpofu was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, for the second consecutive year the local league’s 2015 champions Chicken Inn, have been afforded a chance to test their arsenal in Malawi in a pre-season four-team invitational tournament organised by the Malawian champions Nyasa Big Bullets.
The Zimbabwe side was invited along with Mozambican team UD Songo and will play BE Forward Wanderers and Malawian champions Nyasa Big Bullets who are coached by Callisto Pasuwa.
“We are happy to say we have once again been invited to be part of this pre-season tournament in Malawi. We have confirmed our availability,” said Gamecocks chairman Juta Tshuma.
The three-day invitational tournament will be held at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre from 28 February to 1 March.
Online Reporter