adminLawrence Moyo in CAPE TOWN, South Africa
HOW MINE striker, Simba Sithole, secured a move to South African Premiership side Ajax Cape Town after his impressive display for the Warriors in a CHAN quarter-final against Mali at Athlone here last week. Sithole scored the opener as the Warriors claimed a 2-1 win and he was a constant threat as he withstood the bullying by the physically superior Malians.
He did not need to undergo trials at Ajax and yesterday they announced on their official website the signing of Sithole on a two-year contract.
“Simba is a robust player in and around the penalty area. He is quick, strong on his feet and is not afraid to take on defenders in a one-on-one situation.
“Sithole likes to be involved in the game, is very mobile in possession and his height will enhance Ajax’s aerial capabilities,” read a statement by coach Ian Taylor.
While the statement was posted at 11.29am yesterday, an Ajax Cape Town official was at the Garden Court hotel, where the Warriors are based, at 1pm, and whisked the striker away for medicals as they rushed against the January 31 deadline for mid-season transfers.
Meanwhile, the transaction was done between How Mine and Ajax Cape Town with little or no involvement of the Warriors technical department.
All key people were apparently unaware of the developments when The Herald approached them for comment at the team hotel yesterday.
Coach Ian Gorowa, while not commenting on not being formally appraised, wished Sithole all the best.
“It’s good for him, l wish him all the best,” said Gorowa, who played for Ajax Cape Town after leaving Zimbabwe champions Dynamos in the late 90s.
Gorowa’s attributes are more or less the same with what Taylor credited Sithole with.
Manager Sharif Mussa also expressed ignorance while head-of-delegation, Nigel Munyati said they had not been engaged during the discussions that led to Sithole’s signing.
He, however, said it is in the best interests of the player to grant the transfer.
“I actually didn’t know about the details until I read it online. That’s when I saw that he had signed. I don’t know about the details to tell you whether the transaction was above board,” said Munyati.
On whether the deal was in breach of their directive that they be done after Zimbabwe’s participation in the 2014 CHAN finals, Munyati said:
“It’s a difficult one because you now have to balance protocol versus expedience of the transaction itself given that today (yesterday) is the deadline for player transfers.
“We could have said protocol — only after Saturday-and the young man would have missed an opportunity.
“It would have satisfied us in terms of administrative correctness but in terms of the young man’s future maybe that opportunity might never come in June/July. So I have no problem with that.”
Munyati, who is the outgoing Zifa board member for marketing, said they were generally happy with the behaviour of player agents during Zimbabwe’s involvement with the CHAN finals.
“Player agents and everyone else involved have conducted themselves very well and not interfered with the team much.
“The coach (Ian Gorowa) was very insistent that we cannot have agents interfering with the players until after our participation.”
Online Reporter