adminRicky Zililo in Bulawayo
BULAWAYO soccer giants Highlanders’ lack of financial muscle has seen them suffer another off-season transfer blow after being ditched by their last season’s top goalscorer Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube who has joined FC Platinum.
The striker banged 13 goals for Bosso in all competitions and becomes the second senior player to leave Bosso in a space of a week after Masimba Mambare joined Dynamos.
Ncube met the Highlanders executive yesterday morning demanding his clearance letter which he received and confirmed that he has signed a one-year-deal with the platinum miners and will be joining their Kariba camp tomorrow.
“I have signed a one-year deal with FC Platinum and I am in Bulawayo to collect my boots so that I join them in Kariba.
“I wish the best for Bosso and I hope to do well with my new club.
“I met abadala and they were frank with me that they will get the money from the sponsors later this month but because I have other problems that needed immediate action, I had to look elsewhere for cash.
“FC Platinum were interested in my services and because I have school fees to pay, a house under construction as well as some pressing personal stuff that needed money, I had to sign with FC Platinum,” said Ncube.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube said they gave the striker, who was part of coach Kelvin Kaindu’s plans, a clearance letter after failing to tie him down.
“We are busy negotiating with all our players and Njabulo Ncube came to us and said he wants money on the table before he puts pen to paper.
“Unfortunately, we do not have that money now but what I can guarantee our followers, even our players, is that we are one of the teams well-sponsored and Njabulo could not bear with us to be patient until later this month citing pressing issues needing money.
“He was frank with us that he wants to look for money elsewhere and said that in the absence of cash he wants to hold on to his clearance letter,” Dube said. Bosso are being bankrolled by BancABC and Chronicle has it on good authority that the financial institution promised to release funds to Highlanders later this month. Ncube could not be drawn into revealing the financial details of his move to Zvishavane but it is understood that that FC Platinum parted with US$12 000 to get the striker onto their books. At FC Platinum, Ncube will compete for a starting place with new signings Stephen Sibanda (ex-Buffaloes) and Tarisai Rukanda (ex-Shabanie Mine) while Aubrey Chirwa, Donald Ngoma and Nelson Maziwisa were already at the club.
Online Reporter