Rusike at DeMbare

involved in negotiations for a possible move during the mid-season transfer period.

The 24-year old is currently hunting for a new club following the expiry of his contract at Ajax Cape Town recently.
The diminutive forward has been linked with a move to Belgium outfit OH Leuven but it is not clear if the deal will materialise.
Leuven is the same team where countryman Ovidy Karuru is plying his trade.

Rusike has been in the Urban Warriors books since 2010 but the side decided against renewing his contract when it ended last month.
Efforts to establish his status from his management team were fruitless yesterday although Dynamos indicated they are ready to give the pacy winger a shelter if his camp is prepared to engage in negotiations.

Dynamos team manager, Richard Chihoro, confirmed the player trained with them but were yet to make formal enquiries to establish if he is interested in joining them.
Machapa has been training with Dynamos for the past week following his return from South Africa.

DeMbare chairman, Kenny Mubaiwa, said they have laid their offer on the table and are still waiting to hear from the player’s handlers.
“We are still negotiating. We met today (yesterday) and they promised to come back to us. So we are now waiting and hoping since he is a free agent,” said Mubaiwa.

Besides the other local targets to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the crucial championship race, DeMbare are also hoping to sign a goalkeeper to provide cover for George Chigova.

The coaches are not sure whether Artwell Mukandi will be available until the end of the year as the former Young Warriors goalkeeper is currently in South Africa on trials.
Mubaiwa said they will settle between their former players Zondai Nyaungwa and Knowledge Jimu, who have also been training with the squad, if they can agree terms.

Dynamos defender, Partson Jaure, says the Glamour Boys are paying the price for getting used to playing on the flat and sleek surface of the artificial pitch at Rufaro and need to adjust quickly to control the game even on bumpy pitches.

The Harare giants have struggled on their travels outside the capital in the defence of their Premiership crown — winning only one of five league matches against newboys Tripple B on neutral grounds in Zvishavane.

That the 2-0 win came on the flat surface of Mandava, one of the best pitches in the country, appears to support Jaure’s argument that the Glamour Boys have been a different team altogether on bumpy pitches.

The Zimbabwe international defender was in the DeMbare team that was surprisingly held to a goalless draw by lowly Black Rhinos at Rimuka on Sunday, which saw them drifting five points off the pace being set by the consistent Harare City.

The only slight improvement, from that game, was that it marked only the first time that the Glamour Boys have not conceded, in a league match they failed to win, on their travels outside their fortress in the capital this season. Three defeats outside Harare, in five league games, and only one win, doesn’t bring out a good picture of their championship defence especially with tougher away games to Chicken Inn, Highlanders, Hwange, FC Platinum and Triangle on the way in the final 12 games of the season.

Jaure told The Herald that Dynamos should expect tough matches, whether home and away, in their remaining 12 games,
“This was a very tough game considering that we were playing a team fighting relegation and it’s the norm, during this time of the season, that every team you meet plays just to beat Dynamos,” said Jaure.

“But we did not play our normal game as the pitch was bumpy and our opponents took advantage of their home conditions just like what Buffaloes did when they put a dent on our proud unbeaten record.”

Coach Callisto Pasuwa also challenged his troops to adjust to all playing surfaces, after they dropped points at Rimuka, to bring the number of points they have lost outside Harare in five league matches to 10.

DeMbare have lost at How Mine (0-1) and Buffaloes (2-3), drawn against Shabanie (1-1) and Black Rhinos (0-0) and beaten Tripple B (2-0) on their assignments outside the capital. Rhinos, who are battling relegation, embraced the point they claimed against DeMbare and said it was a good result for their fight for survival.

“What impressed me most was the fact that we managed to hold the giants, Dynamos, the very team that beat us 2-0 in the reverse fixture.,” said Rhinos coach Arthur Tutani.
“A point gained, especially against this big brand like Dynamos, is a point worth the pain.

“We heaved a sigh of relief that we drew with them.”
Club chairman Dennias Madanhi and secretary, Roy Svovanapasi, all hailed the army side for their fighting spirit.

“We are not panicking as yet considering that there are a number of teams above us that we can easily swap places with if we win our next three to four games,” said Madanhi.
“If you look at the log table there are many teams that are crammed under the 22-point mark. So there is hope. ”

Meanwhile, former Motor Action defender Charles Mutero is still weighing his options after requesting to be released by the Mighty Bulls last week.
“I have been in contact with a number of teams but I am still looking at the options available. I think I need a better deal because I have come a long way to be where I am now,” said Mutero.