adminAll the clubs have decided to play their cards close to their chests when dealing with player signings in a bid to seal the deals without challenges from other teams.
Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze, urged clubs to clinch their deals fast and register players that were within their camp.
“Deadline for registration of players for the Caf competitions is 15 December and all the clubs are aware of that. The process will be done electronically and clubs will get the players’ licences soon after that.
“We encourage clubs to give us only the names of players that they have sealed deals with and not those that they are still in talks with because it becomes awkward when they fail to land their signatures. We have noted with great concern the tendency of clubs to register players that are contracted to other clubs and they end up going for the African safari with a few players as they wait for the window to open again,” said Mashingaidze.
Despite the season having ended a fortnight ago, the country’s four representatives in Caf clubs competitions have been busy chasing after players’ signatures.
The Moneybags, as FC Platinum, are popularly known, have been conducting trials at their Mandava Stadium with a number of players trickling to Zvishavane in search of greener pastures.
Some of the players that invaded Zvishavane include Highlanders’ captain and defensive stalwart Gilbert Banda, impressive Motor Action duo of Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year finalist Allan Gahadzikwa and Masimba Mambare, silky midfielder Ali Sadiki of Gunners and his clubmate Michelle Katsvairo.
Chicken Inn trio of Thandazani Ndlovu, Brian Mbiriri and Felix Chindungwe also attended trials at FC Platinum and reports that their club is complaining that they went there without their blessing might see them being overlooked at the ambitious Zvishavane side.
Rahman Gumbo has been assessing the players during the friendly matches that they were using to prepare for their debut in the Caf Champions League.
Sources also revealed that the FC Platinum technical team wanted to have a look at Gunners’ trio of Cliff Sekete, Ismael Lawe and left back Qadr Amini who is likely to compete for that position with Khumbulani Banda who had a rather subdued season at The Moneybags.
The three players were part of the Warriors’ team that lost in the quarter-finals of the Cecafa Tuskers Challenge in Tanzania.
An official at FC Platinum who declined to be named said they would be sealing deals at the weekend.
“The coaches have seen the players who they want and most deals are close to finality. They were impressed with Allan, Gilbert and Sadiki. They also want to bring Qadr so that they can have competition on the left side of defence. “As for Denver Mukamba, the club respects that he is in Dynamos’ books and if he gets DeMbare’s blessings he might come and the coaches will have a look at him,” said the source.
Former Monomotapa, TP Mazembe and Warriors striker Daniel Zokoto has been linked to Hwange.
The coalminers’ spokesman Burzil Dube said they had targeted a number of lower division players whom they hoped to sign.
“There are players that the coaches have recommended but we do not want to talk about them as yet. We are aware that once you disclose who you want some clubs might beat you in securing the player by offering more than what you will have offered and that is why we prefer to remain tight-lipped on who we are getting,” said Dube.
John Kapenya, who was on loan at Zimbabwe Saints last season, is likely to re-unite with the coalminers.
Dynamos chairman, Kenny Mubaiwa said they would be retaining most of their players.
“We are definitely beefing up the squad because we want to get there and compete to win. Negotiations are at an advanced stage with most of the players and we will be announcing the squad soon,” said Mubaiwa.
Some of the players that DeMbare will be retaining include goalkeeper Washington Arubi, George Magariro, Roderick Mutuma, David Kutyauripo, Mukamba and Milton Makopa.
Achieford Gutu might be leaving for Europe while influential long serving striker Murape Murape hung his boots at the end of the season.
Online Reporter