adminThe mid-season transfer-window opened at the beginning of the month and by end of business yesterday, 17 players from eight clubs had been registered.
Some of the players on the list made available by the chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele have played for their new clubs.
“The transfer window has not been that busy but we expect to get more registration papers tomorrow as clubs are still finalising their deals. Since the window opened, we have only registered 17 players and these have been given their licences.
“We are still sticking to the resolution that a club can only register and deregister five players from the list they submitted in January. Those with extra slots can make use of those,” Ndebele said.
The league took the above decision to avoid the risks of clubs losing most of their players which in turn would threaten their activities for the second half of the season.
In the list that PSL has, Caps United and Hardbody have registered three players each which are the biggest by any of the clubs that have been involved in the transfer market.
Caps United signed Shingi Kawondera and Gunners’ duo of Leonard Fiyado and Hardlife Zvireki while Hardbody roped in former Chapungu striker Dumisani Mufudze, Owen Mutsi and Daze Mwanza.
Kawondera has already played three matches for Caps United including the Battle of the Cities against Highlanders at Barbourfields and the Harare derby against Dynamos. In both matches, Caps United lost by identical 1-0 scorelines.
Former Hwange striker Eddie Chitato and Last Chibwiro have joined Black Mambas.
Ex-Hwange and FC Platinum midfielder Ntokozo Tshuma and Moodley Njeleza have signed for Chicken Inn.
The Bulawayo club seems to have lost out on signing Hwange’s Tonisani Sibelo.
“We are not releasing any players and neither are we signing any,” said Hwange spokesman Burzil Dube yesterday.
Chicken Inn’s secretary Tawengwa Hara confirmed that the Sibelo deal was hanging in the balance.
“We wanted him but there are complications as he still has a running contract with Hwange. We are engaging them on the player with the hope of him joining us,” said Hara.
Defending champions Dynamos got the licence for Zambian expatriate Arthur Kaseloki and also snatched reigning Soccer Star of the Year finalist Cliff Sekete from Gunners.
Former Masvingo captain Cyprine Muchabaya has officially joined Buffaloes with Benjamin Marere and Hardlife Mavundi registered with FC Platinum.
Highlanders’ chairman Peter Dube yesterday said they were hoping to finalise at least two deals with some of the players that have been trying their luck at the former champions.
“We hope to sign two or so players depending on who we reach agreement with and obviously this will be done with the technical team’s awareness. We should be sending our papers tomorrow,” Dube said.
The players who have been training with Highlanders include their ex-hitman Mkhokheli Dube, Thabani Moyo, who was with Cypriot Division Two side Chalkanoras Idaliou, Cleopas Dube from ZPC (Hwange), Michael Mahachi from Sauerstown Spurs, Kelvin Majoni from Tsholotsho Pirates and former Highlanders goalkeeper and captain Tapuwa Kapini’s younger brother, Takunda Sadiki, who plays as a midfielder.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the club will probably opt for the two Dubes. There were indications that Moyo may not land a deal as he left Bosso to be his last option after failing to make the grade at Chicken Inn, FC Platinum and in South Africa. Club manager Amin Soma-Phiri was said to have driven to Botswana to seal a deal for unheralded Perseverance Sibanda who is reported to have played for Sparrows and Luveve Big Eleven.
Sibanda is said to have scored seven goals in the just-ended b-Mobile League.
While it has been apparent the team needs firepower, it is surprising that the coach chose to go to South Africa and Zambia instead of finalising his recruits ahead of today’s deadline.
List of players registered
Black Mambas: Eddie Chitato, Last Chibwiro
Buffaloes: Vincent Mukaha, Cyprine Muchabaya
Caps United: Shingi Kawondera, Leonard Fiyado, Hardlife Zvireki
Chicken Inn: Ntokozo Tshuma, Moodley Njeleza
Dynamos: Arthur Kaseloki, Cliff Sekete
FC Platinum: Benjamin Marere, Hardlife Mavundi
Harare City: William Kupera
Hardbody: Dumisani Mufudze, Daze Mwanza, Owen Mutsi
Online Reporter