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Fungai Muderere
DAYS after he was discarded by Chicken Inn, bustling forward Clive Augusto is reportedly on the radar of completing a deal with South Africa’s First Division Soccer One outfit Black Leopards.
Chicken Inn secretary-general Tavengwa Hara briefly confirmed Augusto’s intended move to the Limpopo-based outfit.
“All I can say is, we are eagerly waiting for Augusto’s move. He has been our player and we are waiting for him to tell us his next move. We gave him the freedom to look for another club,” said Hara.
Augusto re-joined Premiership side Chicken Inn from CAPS United in May 2022. In 2019, Chicken Inn sold Augusto to Maritzburg United, with the player signing a three-year deal with the South Africa Premiership side.
Despite leaving the Gamecocks mid-season, Augusto was still able to win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Golden Boot after scoring 14 goals.
However, Augusto failed to replicate the same form in South Africa and was offloaded by Maritzburg United and ended up at Uthongathi. He then joined Caps United in 2021.
Meanwhile, Leopards recently penned a letter courting Bulawayo-based Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfits, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Bulawayo Chiefs and Arenel Movers for a series of international friendly matches that they intended to play in the first two weeks of August in Zimbabwe, Zimpapers Sports Hub can reveal.
In a letter dated July 15 written by Black Leopards chairman Tshifhiwa Thidiela, jointly addressed to all the local four clubs and gleaned by this publication, Lidoda Duvha, as Leopards are affectionately known, wrote: “As you are aware, we are currently in our pre-season here in South Africa, as part of our preparations for the upcoming soccer season, we would like to visit our neighbouring Zimbabwe and play some matches with yourselves.
The plan is to come and play during the first two weeks of August 2024. We are flexible and willing to cover our own transport costs. However, we would request assistance with meals and accommodation with the hope that during the matches your teams may keep 100 percent of the gate takings from the matches.”
Thidila added: “We are aware that your soccer season is currently still on and it will not be possible to play the matches over the weekend, so we are requesting that you suggest suitable days that we may be able to play.
As previously mentioned, we are flexible, so you may also suggest arrangements that could be possible and beneficial to all parties. We could also look forward to the possibility of return matches here in South Africa for your pre-season or whenever possible.
This presents a good opportunity for all of us to make relations and to be able to also make it easier for player movement between our clubs and our countries.”
Highlanders chief executive officer Sihlangu Dlodlo acknowledged receiving the letter from Black Leopards saying while they are willing to play Black Leopards, they are yet to make a formal request to Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and PSL.
Chicken Inn secretary-general Tavengwa Hara also said they have received the letter and they were yet to deliberate on it as the Gamecocks executive. Bulawayo Chiefs secretary-general Awakhiwe Nyoni agreed that they had also received their invitation letter.
Meanwhile, the local Premier Soccer League gets into week 19 this weekend, with two derbies in Bulawayo. Arenel Movers play Chicken Inn on Saturday while Highlanders play Bulawayo Chiefs on Sunday.
Fixtures
Saturday: Yadah v Bikita Minerals (Heart Stadium), Green fuel v Simba Bhora (Greenfuel Arena), ZPC Kariba v Chegutu Pirates (Nyamhunga), FC Platinum v Ngezi Platinum (Mandava), Arenel Movers v Chicken Inn (Luveve).
Sunday: Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), Highlanders v Bulawayo Chiefs (Barbourfields), Manica Diamonds v TelOne (Sakubva), Caps United v Herentals (Rufaro).
Online Reporter