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Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
KUDA Mahachi’s proposed move to Monaco has collapsed amid reports that Mamelodi Sundowns are demanding a fortune for the midfielder, in a move that keeps yet another rising Zimbabwe international footballer in Super Diski.
Knowledge Musona, who has been hoping to find a home at Granada in Spain, is also heading back to South Africa for the comforts of Kaizer Chiefs in what could mark the end of his attempts to establish himself as a Europe-based international footballer.
With Ovidy Karuru having retreated to Super Diski from Belgium, Nyasha Mushekwi’s future in Europe uncertain, it means that the bulk of the high-profile Zimbabwe international football stars will all ply their trade in South Africa.
Hopes that Khama Billiat will make the grade, following in the footsteps of his former Ajax Amsterdam teammate Thulani Serero by moving from South Africa to Europe, are fading with each season that passes by.
Billiat turns 24 next week and, poised to spend another season at Mamelodi Sundowns, the Zimbabwe international forward will be 25 by the time this Super Diski season ends and it’s not an age that European teams are investing in talent coming out of Africa.
The same can be said about Musona who endured two forgettable seasons in the Bundesliga and was hoping for move to Spain after spending the past season back at the Amakhosi, but will now have to spend at least another season at Chiefs.
Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter confirmed to the South African media on Wednesday that Musona will be at Naturena and was on the way back to the Rainbow Nation.
“We think everything is clear, Knowledge is on his way back,” Baxter told SuperSport’s pitch-side journalist after his team powered to a 2-1 win over Mpumalanga Black Aces.
“He will give us a few more options, another dimension, but I say the same thing, this team is doing well at the moment, Knowledge, Shabba, Bernard, they’ve all got to get into the team.”
Musona was signed by German club TSG Hoffenheim from Chiefs on a five-year deal, which was celebrated here as a giant leap forward for the country’s best football player in the past two years, but he struggled to make an impression in the Bundesliga.
There were fitness concerns for the forward, following an injury, while he was also played wide on the wing, struggling in his new position, after having spent much of his career playing a central attacking role.
He eventually went down the pecking order and was loaned to Bundesliga rivals Ausburg where the Zimbabwean international also made limited appearances.
He came to Chiefs last season and appeared to have regained his scoring prowess and had been hoping for another dance in the Europe.
Last week, Musona trained with Granada but it appears they have decided against taking him on board and now he is flying back to South Africa. He will join Karuru, who is set to feature for Chiefs once he sorts out his work permit.
Karuru broke into Europe at French club US Boulogne in 2009 and then switched to Belgian side OH Leuven before coming to Chiefs last month.
“Karuru is finalising his work permit (Phakamani) Mngadi is still learning our style of play but knocking on my door by working hard at training,” Baxter told Soccer Laduma.
“We will have patience with everybody, but they will have to earn their places.”
Mahachi, too, is set to spend this season at Mamelodi Sundowns who have registered him for the new season amid reports that talks with Monaco, for the midfielder to join the French side, collapsed because the two teams could not agree a fee.
Mahachi is reported to have impressed during his trials at the French Ligue 1 side and scored twice in friendly matches, but Monaco were unhappy with the price that Sundowns were putting on his head for the transfer.
Sundowns confirmed signing Mahachi in March this year for US$110 000 after having trekked the player during the African Nations Championships in South Africa.
Some feel Sundowns tied Mahachi to a deal for speculative purposes and had been hoping to make a huge financial return if they sell the player to a European side.
On Wednesday, Mahachi started on the bench when the Brazilians lost 0-1 to Ajax Cape Town and last week the Zimbabwe international featured on the bench when Sundowns drew 1-1 with Maritzburg United.
Some analysts here have blamed Super Diski for the way the Warriors have, of late, struggled to make an impression on the international stage.
The Warriors will be inactive, at least, for about one-and-a-half years, after crashing out of the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers at the first preliminary round stage.
Yesterday, the Warriors moved eight places on the Fifa Coca-Cola World Rankings and now placed on 90th place in the world.
The senior national team is six places below Zambia, who plunged down the rankings, but are also ranked below western neighbours Botswana.
Zimbabwe are one of just two Southern Africa countries, including Swaziland, who will not feature in the group stages of the qualifying campaign for the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers that get underway next month.
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