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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League-bound Bulawayo City have offloaded 18 players as they intensify their preparations for their maiden topflight season. City’s coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube wielded the axe on former national team and Ajax Cape Town striker Simba Sithole in a major shake-up. The ambitious Bulawayo side have also lined up a number of targets to beef up their squad with the club chairman Jerry Sibanda hopeful of wrapping up their signings by Christmas.

Among the players that City are targeting are former national team defender Obert “Cobra” Moyo who is plying his trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bulawayo Chiefs’ utility player Pride “Sjankala” Zireni and Flame Lily’s James Chivasa.

Chicken Inn’s fringe striker Thomas “Mahinya” Chimenya is also on the coach’s wish list.

“We’re leaving no stone unturned as we prepare for our first PSL season. Our intentions are to go into the PSL to stay for as long as possible. The coach has been looking at the players and he told us that there are 18 players, including Simba Sithole who aren’t in his plans for next season. Most of these players that we’ve released played a few games while others are those who we had loaned elsewhere. There’s no reason to keep a big squad which we won’t be able to sustain,” Sibanda said.

He could not be drawn into revealing the names of players that they have dumped. Sibanda said by releasing players now will afford them an opportunity to look for clubs before next season starts.

City are also said to be interested in the services of Southern Region Soccer League’s Soccer Star of the Year Ishmael Wadi and his Bulawayo Chiefs team-mate Wallace Magalane.

Magalane was arguably the best goalkeeper in the Southern Region Soccer League while Wadi was lively playing as a winger for Chiefs. Sibanda said they are in the process of approaching some of their targets’ clubs to find out about their availability.

“We’re interested in a number of experienced players, not flops from other clubs. Our target is to conclude our deals before the Christmas holiday. We’ll also be recruiting Under-20 players who will not just sit on the bench but will challenge for first team action,” said Sibanda.