Will new Bosso signings feature?

Innocent Kurira

Zimpapers Sports Hub

THE lifting of Highlanders’ FIFA transfer ban has brought a sense of relief, but coach Kelvin Kaindu’s preparations for Saturday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter against GreenFuel remain clouded by the possibility of not having any new signings for the assignment.

Despite the ban having been lifted earlier this week, the team’s injury woes and uncertainty surrounding the registration of new signings continue to trouble the Bosso coach.

In their opening two matches, Highlanders have lost 1-0 away to MWOS and won 4-0 against Kwekwe United at Barbourfields Stadium last weekend.

Ahead of the GreenFuel clash, Kaindu said some of his players are battling to recover from various injuries without releasing names of the specific players.

“It becomes a bit difficult for us as coaches to give names of players who are injured or have knocks because we have to protect some of these boys. That is why we keep some of these things confidential. We just hope that some of our few players who were on the injury list and those who picked up minor knocks in the last game will be fit for the game that we are playing on Saturday. We are just hopeful that today (yesterday), as we do our last training session, they will be available for selection,” said Kaindu.

Kaindu also refrained from discussing specifics about the club’s new additions after the lifting of the ban, but spokesperson Nozibelo Maphosa revealed that an official announcement will be made soon.

“We are likely to release our new signings together with the entire squad for the season. The ban was lifted earlier this week, and we are still working on the paperwork for some of the players,” said Maphosa.

Kaindu is a man in anxiety.

“I am sure the club has issued a statement on the ban and the present situation. Once there are any developments, the club will certainly give an update. Of course, the lifting of the ban gives us an advantage as the technical team. We have struggled to come up with a 20-man squad.

“I think in the first game we had 17 players, including injured players, and in the second game we had 18 players, but we managed to give some of them a run in the last minutes on Sunday. Darlington Mukuli also came in, and he has been out for a long time,” said Kaindu.

Among the new recruits expected to join Bosso is defender Marlvern Hativagoni, who joins on a one-year loan deal from Bulawayo Chiefs.

A seasoned campaigner with several caps for the Zimbabwe Warriors, Hativagoni previously played for Ngezi Platinum on loan and will bring invaluable experience to Bosso’s defence.

Striker Never Rauzhi is set to return to Highlanders despite interest from TelOne.

Rauzhi, a talented and quick forward, has struggled with injuries since his initial move to Bosso last season but is now fit and ready to rediscover his form.

Other new signings include winger Tendai Muvuti from Hwange FC, who previously played for Bulawayo Chiefs, and midfielder Hubert Ncube from ZPC Hwange, who will bring energy and creativity to the team. Striker Mbonisi Ncube, who has previously played in Botswana, is expected to be one of the new signings.

These signings are expected to strengthen Bosso’s squad as they prepare to face teams like GreenFuel, whom they have met four times in the league since the latter was promoted to the top-flight league in 2022.

Last season, Bosso won 4-0 at Barbourfields after the two teams had played to a 1-1 draw in Chisumbanje in the first leg.

In 2023, the two teams played to one all stalemate in both encounters.