The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
ITS only 13 days into the New Year and over two months before the 2019 top flight season kicks off but there’s already a stampede for talent on the local football market.
The big boys, Dynamos, Highlanders and Caps United have been bullied before in this market, by the emerging financially sound clubs, and the trend looks set to continue again as Premiership teams gear up for the 2019 season.
DeMbare coach Lloyd Chigowe has conceded that his side cannot compete on the market with the likes of newly promoted Manica Diamond. Makepekepe have been forced into a major policy shift, while Bosso are banking on their famed youth programme.
Manica Diamonds have indeed arrived in a big way.
The Manicaland side has captured the signatures of Partson Jaure, Peace Makaha, Pritchard Mpelele, Wisdom Mutasa, Marshal Mudehwe and Ashley Rayners.
Defending champions FC Platinum, whose participation in the CAF Champions League forced them into quick action, last week got the signature of the league’s most consistent right back and 2018 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Godknows Murwira.
They also snapped the highly rated Perfect Chikwende from Bulawayo Chiefs in a major statement of intent from the Norman Mapeza coached side that has dominated the PSL kraal since 2017.
The sun has been shining on the market for Harare City, one of the few clubs to really hit the ground running as Mark Harrison’s side seeks to improve on last year’s ninth position.
Former Highlanders and Caps United utility player Milton Ncube, central midfielder Walter Mukanga and ex DeMbare captain Marshal Machazane are some of the major signings at Harare City who have parted ways with winger Malvin Gaki.
Impressive former Triangle midfielder Collins Dhuwa and former Tsholotsho midfielder Tatenda Tavengwa are also now part of Harrison’s 2019 plans.
Harare City chief executive officer Tafadzwa Bhasera confirmed that the Sunshine Boys are done on the market.
“The technical department has confirmed that they are done with the signings,” Bhasera told The Sunday Mail.
DeMbare coach Chigowe conducted trials at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe sports club where Aces Academy products caught the eye, especially highly rated right back Emmanuel Jalayi who starred for the Young Warriors squad that won silver at the Under-20 tournament held in Zambia last December.
The 20-year-old Jalayi is one of the top-notch players coming out of the famed Aces Academy bakery and is spoken highly of by Young Warriors coaches Bekithemba Ndlovu and Mark Mathe.
Chigowe is also targeting the former Triangle duo of Rodwell Mhlanga and Meson Nelson as direct replacements for Ocean Mushure and Peace Makaha.
Mushure is now based in Zambia while Makaha has joined Manica Diamonds.
“We have Rodwell Mhlanga who was playing left back at Triangle, it is critical that we find someone to replace Ocean Mushure.
“I also have got Meson Nelson, the right back who played at Monomotapa and also played for Triangle,” revealed Chigowe.
“But the core of the players we will pick from Division One teams. We also have Aces Academy players here, their talent is undoubted.
“Also remember that Dynamos have been champions at Under 18 level for the past three seasons, so within our ranks we also have massive talent.
“In terms of talent we are almost there, experience is something that is gained. We are still expecting four or five players from our old squad to add steel but basically we will go for youth.
“We will not be able to match Manica Diamonds in terms of buying players on the market, neither can we go toe to toe with the likes of Ngezi Platinum, FC Platinum or Chicken Inn.
“But with enthusiasm, determination and talent we will be able to hold our own. Championship maybe not but we will be a competitive side,” said Chigowe.
Valentine Kadonzvo, Tatenda Muringani, Kudzanai Dhemere and Tawanda Macheka trained with DeMbare last week although chances are high Kadonzvo will leave for America where has secured a scholarship to study for an Electrical Engineering degree at a Boston University.
“We also expect Marabha (Godfrey Mukambi) to be back, he has a running contract,” added Chigowe.
Contrary to reports that DeMbare had snapped Herentals’ Carlos Mavhurume, the steely centre back is still with “The Students” who are instead chasing the signature of Gift Saunyama with the intention of partnering him with Richard Hachiro in central midfield.
With two livewire wingers in the form of Phineas Bamusi and Gabriel Nyoni, flanking the intelligent John Zhuwawu; it appears as coach Lloyd Chitembwe may be onto something.
It also looks like veteran linkman Joel Ngodzo will remain at Makepekepe; the Harare giants have since gone through a major policy shift, departing from their traditional belief in old horses to a fusion of youth and experience.
Highlanders, the best team amongst the Big Three last season, having finished fifth, began preparing for the 2019 season way back in September when they brought back striker Prince Dube from South Africa.
Bantu Rovers product Bukhosi Sibanda, ex Dynamos winger Cleopas Kapupurika and prodigal son Nqobizitha Masuku are now part of “Tshilamoya.”
“So far so good, we are moving in the right direction. The good news to our fans is that defenders Peter Muduhwa and Tendai Ndlovu extended their contracts with the club,” said Highlanders’ chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube, however, refused to talk about striker Obriel Chirinda who has been linked with a move from neighbors Chicken Inn.
“Obriel (Chirinda) is not with us, he is a Chicken Inn player and professionally we respect other clubs,” said Dube. Chicken Inn could also lose 2018 Soccer Star of the Year finalist Innocent Mucheneka whose contract with the Gamecocks expired on December 31, although the 2015 champions might trigger the contract extension clause.
Mucheneka, who initially was on his way to ABSA Premiership side Baroka FC, is now being linked with a move to Caps United.
A few days after losing keeper Ashley Rayners to Manica Diamonds, Black Rhinos moved in to bring on board giant striker Francesco Zekumbawire and Moses Demera who are set to join from ZPC Kariba.
“Chauya Chipembere” have also been linked with Caps United center back Stephen Makatuka.
Newly promoted Bindura based side Mushowani Stars are set to announce Arthur “Tuts” Tutani as their head coach, replacing Levison Salous who will be demoted to the assistant coach’s post.
“We held interviews with various coaches but we are settling for Tutani because of his experience and also because he is someone we worked with before,” said Irvine Nyakasoka, Mushowani Stars director.
