The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
A LOT was expected from the highly sought-after striker, Obriel Chirinda, this season after he was voted the third best player on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League scene last season.
The 27-year-old former Bulawayo Chiefs hitman is yet to kick a ball this season, as he is still barred by the Premier Soccer League, who insist his transfer saga involving Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum Stars has to be resolved first.
“We can’t allow him to play as it stands,” PSL chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele told Zimpapers Sport.
The pre-season transfer window officially closed on March 31, but Chirinda had already been partially registered as a Ngezi Platinum Stars player and is training with the Mhondoro-based side.
But the problem is that he joined Madamburo after he had signed another contract with DeMbare, who paid him a US$4 800 sign-on fee.
Dynamos have a copy of the contract with Chirinda, and the star striker acknowledged receipt of the money in an affidavit signed on February 28.
DeMbare approached Chirinda on the understanding that he would be declared a free agent since his former club, Bulawayo Chiefs, was owing him a substantial amount in outstanding salaries.
Dynamos even sought advice from the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) before paying Chirinda.
It turned out that Chirinda’s contract with Bulawayo Chiefs, which was supposed to expire in December 2024, had been reactivated after the club paid him all his outstanding dues.
Based on that information, Ngezi Platinum Stars approached Bulawayo Chiefs and signed Chirinda.
Dynamos reacted and wrote a letter to the PSL insisting he belonged to them.
Chirinda is still holding on to DeMbare’s US$4 800 and the Harare giants are refusing to take back the money.
They insist Chirinda is their player.
FUZ have now taken the matter up to the ZIFA Normalisation Committee, but for now Chirinda remains grounded.
Chirinda’s story has been one of the major highlights of the pre-season transfer window.
A few clubs made some last-minute additions, including Yadah, who registered former SuperSport United and Zimbabwe national team striker Evans Rusike.
However, attempts by the truant Denver Mukamba to resurrect at Yadah during the Easter holiday were futile.
The former Soccer Star of the Year disappeared from the scene soon after receiving his 2023 sign-on fee from Dynamos in December last year.
Green Fuel coach Rodwell Dhlakama made efforts to reunite with him, but Mukamba was not available.
“I tried to sign Denver (Mukamba), but the boy was not available. However, I still think he has more to offer and he also needs more help,” Dhlakama said last week.
Interestingly, on March 28, Mukamba claimed he was moving to Yadah and was relishing the chance to play alongside the hugely popular Khama Billiat.
That was three days before the window closed.
“I am going to Yadah. I should start training on Monday or Tuesday (last week). I think you should write a story. Hazvipereka; I am still in the game. Denver and Khama at Yadah is the real story,” Mukamba boasted.
Yadah coach Thomas Ruzive said his team has never been in touch with Mukamba.
“Denver is not with us; we never heard anything about him,” Ruzive told Zimpapers Sport on Friday.
“As for Evans Rusike, he has been registered with the Premier Soccer League and we are now awaiting his licence. But he is already training with us. He looks good and obviously you can’t take away his experience.”
Rusike reunites with Billiat at Yadah, a few years after the two veterans combined forces in national team colours.
Billiat’s arrival at Yadah in February was, by far, the biggest story of the transfer window.
Elsewhere, there was a lot of player movement as PSL sides jostled for the best players ahead of the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Apart from Chirinda, defending champions Ngezi Platinum Stars signed midfielder Richard Hachiro from Chicken Inn, left-back Talent Chamboko from Manica Diamonds and Moses Demera, who scored 12 league goals for ZPC Kariba last season.
Former SuperSport United and national team winger Kuda Mahachi’s move to Manica Diamonds was also another major talking point.
Dynamos are still making efforts to register Nicholas Guyo, who is back in the country after some time in Spain where he turned out for Malaga Academy, among other football institutions.
He is a product of the famed Aces Youth Soccer Academy.
“We are yet to register Guyo, but since he is a free agent, we can register him any time,” said a source within the club.
DeMbare added the midfield duo of Temptation Chiwunga and Ghanaian Frederick Ansah Botchway, as well as Warriors keeper Martin Mapisa, to their ranks
Veteran coach Joey “Mafero” Antipas is now back in charge at Chicken Inn after he was sidelined last season because of some qualification requirements by ZIFA, which have since been revised.
Antipas beefed up his team with Thulani Joseph and Lincoln Mangaira (CAPS United); Innocent Muchaneka (FC Platinum); El Sharma Farasi (Highlanders); and Brighton Makopa, who scored eight goals for Hwange last season.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza made some signings at the former champions.
Mbongeni Ndlovu (Highlanders), Davison Marowa (Herentals), Brighton Manhire (Highlanders), David Bizabani (Greenfuel) and Wilfred Muvirimi (Orapa United) were some of the major deals at Pure Platinum Play.
Mapeza promoted three players from the club’s Under-19 team.
After escaping relegation in their debut top -light season, Green Fuel went shopping and brought in a bright prospect called Tinotenda Meke.
The 19-year-old winger stood out for Cranborne Bullets last season, although he failed to save the soldiers from relegation.
Anelka Chivandire, Godwin Goriyati, Learnmore Muyambo and former Hwange keeper Nedric Mandeya are also now at Greenfuel.
Kelvin “KK” Kaindu is back at Highlanders and the Zambian gaffer still has faith in young players.
He signed 24-year-old Reason Sibanda from Arenel Movers, as well as Brian Mlotshwa from Hwange.
Marvin Sibanda joined Bosso from the United States’ fourth-tier side Little Rock Rangers.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe brought in a mixture of old and young players, as he seeks to reclaim the league title he last won in 2016.
Junior Bunjira, Jayden Bakare (on loan from Dynamos), Bruce Kangwa, Ralph Kawondera, Lot Chiwunga, Milton Chirwa, Simba Gunda, Wayne Makuva, Brian Kadamanja, Kingsley Mureremba and Tapiwa Rusenza are now at Makepekepe.
The story of the pre-season transfer window would not be complete without mentioning Simba Bhora, who were among the busiest teams on the market.
They signed a host of top players, including 2022 Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona, Perfect Chikwende, Junior Makunike, Billy Veremu, Mtokhozisi Msebe, Malvin Mkolo, Taimon Mvula and Talbert Shumba.
X: @LangtonGuraz
