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Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
ONE of the country’s most renowned Fifa-registered player agents, George Deda, is looking for a top goalkeeper whom he can immediately export to Tanzania where he will sign for giants Azam FC.
Azam FC is home to the former Highlanders duo of Bruce Kangwa and Prince Dube.
It was also home to ex-FC Platinum player Never Tigere who now plays for newly promoted Tanzanian Premier League outfit Ihefu SC. Azam, only established in 2004 have earned a reputation for being top spenders as they seek to challenge the dominance of Simba Sports Club and Young Africans in the Tanzanian Premier League.
Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Deda, who also appealed for a helping hand from his fellow Fifa registered player agents in his search for a fine shot stopper whom he can recommend to Azam, said: “It’s an urgent matter, I’m looking for a top goalkeeper whom I can take to Azam FC in Tanzania. The transfer window is expected to close on 15 January next year. They have emphasised they need a quality goalkeeper and I have been given different names of gifted local goalkeepers and a decision will be made soon after looking at their video clips among other things.”
Among local goal minders’ names that Deda is likely to settle for are Chicken Inn’s Donovan Bernard, Dynamos’ Tiamon Mvula and Soccer Star of the Year finalist Nelson Chadya who does duty for Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Courtesy of his stellar performance between the sticks, Bernard, was last month named Gamecocks Player of The Season.
The former Warriors goalkeeper had 31 starts for Joey Antipas’ men in the just concluded 2021/2022 season process producing 16 clean sheets while Mvula had a brilliant start in DeMbare colours only to watch his form take a nose dive towards the end of the season.
Chadya also had a breathtaking performance for the Mhondoro-based outfit but he is yet to prove his mettle in Warriors colours.
Wallace Magalane of FC Platinum was another top performer in goals during the 2021/22 season, which saw him keep 16 clean sheets in 20 matches but it is highly unlikely that the four times in a row champions will be willing to let go of one of their prized possessions.
In July, Bernard’s proposed move to South Africa’s Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) collapsed amid revelations that the Motsepe Foundation Championship side changed goalposts on the player’s earnings.
The national goalkeeper had attracted interest of TTM and personal terms were agreed before he travelled to South Africa. A reduction of the package the Limpopo-based club had initially offered to the Chicken Inn shot stopper saw negotiations between the two parties hit a brick wall, forcing the 27-year old to return home.
Consequently, the player was compelled to retrace home where he continued to command a starting place beating equally gifted Pride Zendera to Gamecocks’ number one jersey. — @FungaiMuderere
Online Reporter