Sithole joins DeMbare

signed for them on his return to domestic football.
Dynamos will resume their championship march with a tricky derby clash against Harare City at Rufaro this afternoon, the same day that their closest rivals and old enemies Highlanders also face a cagey Bulawayo derby assignment against plucky Chicken Inn at Barbourfields.

DeMbare had their 4-2 victory over Hwange reinstalled after they successfully appealed against a Premier Soccer League disciplinary committee ruling that had nullified the result following an alleged assault of the coalminers’ coach Nation Dube by the Glamour Boys marshals.
The Glamour Boys now lead Bosso by a superior goal difference with both teams tied on 46 points, setting the stage for a tense finale to the championship title race.

But, with Sithole joining them yesterday after being released by big-spending South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in July where he barely saw any game time, his arrival could help give Dynamos the edge in the race.
Sithole immediately joined his new teammates at the Dynamos training session at Raylton Sports Club moments after his manager Gibson Mahachi had completed all the paperwork with the DeMbare executive in the morning.

But the former CAPS United man, who surprised everyone by opting to join the Green Machine’s bitter rivals on his return to the local scene, is unlikely to be immediately thrown into the fray in the clash against Harare City.
Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa, could, however, not hide his joy at having another striker coming onto his ranks as a direct replacement for Takesure Chinyama, who is now at Orlando Pirates.

Pasuwa said he would have to first assess Sithole’s fitness but hinted that he could soon unleash the ex-Pamushana High School student as the striker had been training regularly with Sundowns at their Chloorkorp base until he packed his bags for Harare.
“It improves competition in our attack and some of my strikers were somehow relaxing because of lack of competition.

“I have been told that although he his contract was terminated by Sundowns, he had continued to train with them so we will assess his fitness and if he is OK then we will play him because with the way the games are coming thick and fast, we needed a player like him who has a good eye for goal,’’ Pasuwa said.
Mahachi said although Sithole had been on a more lucrative deal at Sundowns, he had advised the player to opt for a termination of the contract in order to revive his fledgling professional career.

Sithole had barely played the whole season for CAPS United when he was snapped up by Sundowns but he had struck 10 goals by the time he left and that the man who eventually won the Golden Boot last year — Roderick Mutuma — scored 15 goals shows that the former could have been the league’s leading scorer had he stayed at home.

Now Sithole has a chance to revive his romance with the domestic Premiership and even compete for the Golden Boot award among the rich picking in the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
Dynamos will also begin the defence of their Mbada Diamonds Cup title when they date Quelaton in the capital on Sunday.

But, for now, Pasuwa is focussing on today’s match against a Harare City side that stunned Dynamos 1-0 at Rufaro on June 13 and saw the Glamour Boys’ star midfielder Denver Mukamba sent off while Mahachi said his player had to fight for his place in the team first.
Sithole also comes in at Dynamos as a free agent and with Sundowns having already issued his clearance, it will just be a matter of time before he makes his debut for the Harare giants.

“When Simba went to Sundowns, he was in the national team but because of lack of game time he was no longer part of the team.
“What is important for him at 21 years is to have game time and that is why we decided to reach out for a termination. Financially it was rewarding being at Sundowns but for the sake of his career he needs to be playing more often.
“He was cleared by Sundowns in July what had been left was to finalise the termination but he had been training with them until last week as he was awaiting the

finalisation of his papers.

“Simba also fully understands that joining Dynamos is a platform for him to re-launch his career and he is ready to fight for his place at Dynamos,’’ Mahachi said.
In welcoming another striker to his side, Pasuwa also challenged his players to maintain the momentum that has seen them sweep into pole position in the championship marathon.

Pasuwa said it was imperative that his players treated giant-killers Harare City with respect and get the job done first before they look at the profile of their opponents.

“It’s a big challenge to play a team like Harare City and I have been telling my guys that whether it is Triangle, Quelaton or Harare City, we should not look at the profile of the team but it should be business as usual.
“Harare City are giant killers and we have to be very careful. I hope the international break did not break the team’s rhythm but these things happen and as a coach you just have to be prepared for everything,’’ Pasuwa said. Harare City mentor Bigboy Mawiwi appeared in a relaxed mood reckoned that the pressure

would be more on Dynamos going into today’s match and declared the Sunshine Boys ready for the showdown.

“We are very positive going into this match, our approach is positive and we are going to attack until the end. We are aware that Dynamos are on a roll but they are more under pressure to collect the points and that should work to our advantage.
“We had a good preparation when played the national team last week,’’ Mawiwi said.