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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
ARMY side Black Rhinos are set to conduct medicals today in preparation for the start of the pre-season training, as Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clubs begin to position themselves ahead of the 2023 campaign.
This comes as the clubs have also started jostling for players to beef up during the January transfer window.
But Rhinos will not be going on a shopping spree after they retained the bulk of the squad that finished eighth in the previous campaign and also reached the semi-finals of the 18-team Chibuku Super Cup.
Chauya Chipembere also gave opportunities for new blood when they held trials last week and shortlisted 16 young players aged between 15 and 24 years, for further assessments. The club’s secretary-general Edward Mutukwa said they are looking forward to assembling a competitive squad this season despite parting ways with some of their key players like Gareth Madhake, skipper Farai Banda and Congolese forward Eli Illunga, who was their top goal scorer last season with 11 goals.
Ilunga, who was among the Soccer Star of the Year finalists last season, is reportedly heading for Dynamos while Madhake has signed for Ngezi Platinum Stars and Banda is moving to Manica Diamonds.
Mutukwa said the army side will start pre-season training tomorrow at the National Sports Stadium B Arena.
They are also set for a training camp in Kariba at the end of this month. “We are ready to begin the pre-season training,” said Mutukwa.
“The players will conduct medicals tomorrow (today) and then on Tuesday training gets underway at the National Sports Stadium B Arena.
“Of course there have been movements of players here and there but we are not going on a shopping spree because we have able replacements for those that are leaving.
“For your own information, we have some players who were part of our squad last year but we had sent them for military training. These are really good players.
“I am talking of guys like Kudakwashe Nyakudanga, Tatenda Mchisa, Nigel Gezana, Lennon Gonese, Sylon Chikwerengwe and Valentine Katsande.
“We also held trials last week and we had more than 200 players turning up. We shortlisted 16 from that group and these have been invited to join the rest of the squad during the pre-season where they will get further assessment. We cannot keep on recycling old players, we need young blood and these are young players between the ages of 15 and 24 years.
“So we will have three weeks in Harare and then leave for Kariba at the end of January for a two-week training camp. After that I think we will be good for the season,” said Mutukwa. Experienced centre-back Dennis Dauda has been retained by Rhinos, who are set to recall some of their players who were at Cranborne Bullets — Kelvin Chiripawako and Douglas Mbewe.
However, the side has offloaded former Dynamos defender Peace Makaha and veteran striker Tawanda Nyamandwe.
The Premier Soccer League is expected to open their offices today after the Christmas holiday break. Most of the clubs are expected to kick-start their preseason today, including defending champions FC Platinum.
The 2021/2022 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League runners-up, Chicken Inn, will begin next Monday.
Harare giants started last week under new coach Herbert Maruwa.
DeMbare are expected to unveil their new squad in the coming days after parting ways with about 13 players last week.
The Glamour Boys have been linked with defenders Kelvin and Elvis Moyo from Bulawayo Chiefs, ex-Harare City duo Donald Mudadi and Emmanuel Ziocha, Tanaka Shandirwa from Yadah, Jayden Barake formerly of Whawha, Nyasha Chintuli from Manica Diamonds and Eli Ilunga.
But it appears Manica Diamonds have been the busiest on the market so far, as the Gem Boys have added nine players and intend to bring in at least two more before the close of the window.
The former Triangle United quintet of Gerald Bero, Kelvin Gwao, Donald Ngoma, Godfrey Chisumba and Tawanda Chisi are now at Manica Diamonds, who are coached by the ex-Triangle gaffer, Jairos Tapera.
Manica Diamonds have also captured the former Dynamos duo of Ralph Kawondera and Trevor Mavhunga, as well as Panashe Mutasa, who turned out for relegated Tenax last season.
CAPS United have signed former Dynamos utility man Godknows Murwira, while releasing the duo of Diego Makurumidze and Tichaona Macheka to newly-promoted Sheasham.
Online Reporter