Shabanie Mine sign 10 players

ALIVE AND KICKING: Tobias Mudyambanje at The Chronicle offices yesterday. The rumour mill on Tuesday went into overdrive claiming that the former Highlanders goalscoring sensation was in a critical condition at a city hospital. Mudyambanje yesterday said he had not been ill of late and was astonished that people were claiming that he was very sick. Chronicle Sport was on Tuesday inundated with calls by readers who wanted to establish the truth about the former Bosso’s striker’s health.

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
SMARTING from losing 25 players from the last season squad, 2013 BancABC Sup8r Knockout champions Shabanie Mine FC have signed 10 players to bolster their team.
The Zvishavane club was left with just five players, goalkeeper Victor Twaliki who played most of their matches, Rodney Mware who spent the better part of the year nursing an injury, captain Smart Muchabaya, Willard Ngonya and veteran Philip Sithole.

Speaking after yesterday’s training session at Maglas Stadium, Shabanie Mine coach John Phiri who took over from Luke Masomere who joined Buffaloes in Mutare said his squad is shaping up.

Phiri has brought along former Highlanders striker Patrick “Mboma” Mpofu and Xolani Ncube who he coached at the Beitbridge based Zifa Central Region Division One Soccer League club Town United FC in the second half of last season.

The former FC Platinum Under-19 coach has also snapped up goalkeeper London Zulu from ZPC Hwange, former Young Warriors and FC Platinum midfielder Edmore Tsoro, Marvelous Dikinya from New West and the Chegutu duo of Simbarashe Domingo and Ashley Mokoena.

Phiri said they have also recalled Lloyd Ngara and Nyasha Mpofu who spent last season at How Mine.
Ex-Highlanders junior midfielder Ryan Mabhena, 21, who was in the same group with Arnold Ndiweni and Knox Mutizwa that was coached by Dumaza Dube in 2009 and spent last season at New West completes the list of players that have agreed terms with Shabanie Mine.

“If you look at the squad that we are assembling, it has a number of unheralded players save for Mpofu who once played for Highlanders but has been in Division One for some time. I have seen the level of commitment this group has and I believe that if they maintain the right attitude we are going far. I know they can stand up to any Premiership club and what we will be doing is to work on combinations in the next weeks by playing friendly matches,” said Phiri.

He does not have any regrets that most players dumped the club for greener pastures elsewhere.
Among the players that have left Chinda Boys are attacking midfielder Valentine Ndaba who joined Bulawayo giants Highlanders, forceful striker Caleb Masocha who is said to have agreed terms with Bantu Rovers and Tarisai Rukanda who joined rivals FC Platinum.

Tafadzwa Mombeshora, Frankson Bushiri, Blessed Mbavaira, Pardon Marima, Pervington Zimunya and Fungai Chirinda who were Shabanie Mine’s backbone all left the club.

“I coached most of those players and I think it’s okay that they left so that other players like Ryan, Tsoro, Ngara and Dikinya who have not tasted Premiership football get a chance to expose their talent at the highest level. There are some players from other former Premiership teams which were relegated last season who are here but because we are in the process of engaging their clubs, I cannot reveal their names.”