adminLovemore Zigara in Gweru
ZIFA Central Soccer League (CSL) champions Shabanie Mine are in a quandary after it emerged that all their players’ contracts have expired.
However, Shabanie Mine chairman Elias Marufu said the club was not pressing any panic buttons as negotiations with the bulk of the players, who did duty for the Chinda Boys, had started.
“That contracts of the players have expired does not mean they have ceased to be Shabanie Mine players. Actually almost all the players have expressed their desire to remain at the club and we have started the process of renewing their contracts,” said Marufu.
“I am confident that before the end of this month we would have renewed contracts of our players and signed new players to strengthen the team for the Premiership sojourn.”
Shabanie Mine have already lost skipper Zvenyika Makonese, who is on the verge of signing for Swaziland Premiership outfit Manzini Wanderers.
While Marufu was mum on the impending departure of Makonese, he dismissed reports that head coach Tendai Chikuni was leaving as bar talk.
“It is unfair that people are being fed with bar talk and the media has worsened [the talk] by speculating.
“We have a good relationship with Chikuni and he has not expressed any intentions of leaving us. In fact, we are working with him so that he comes up with a strong squad to compete in the Premiership,” said Marufu.
Chikuni indicated to Chronicle Sport last month that he was ready to quit the asbestos miners and was listening to offers from other clubs since he did not have a contract with Shabanie Mine for the one-and-a-half seasons he coached the team.
He has also been linked with the Chapungu United coaching job following the departure of John Nyikadzino.
Online Reporter