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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC coach Bongani Mafu has denied that he fired or barred enterprising midfielder Joel “Josta” Ngodzo from the team. He said instead it was the talented midfielder who chose not to come for training. Mafu said when he heard that the club had come up with a list of players who were meant to be offloaded while some had contracts expiring at the end of last month, he asked the administration to allow all the players to come for training so that he could assesses them himself.

Josta is among the players whose contracts expired in December last year but is still interested in playing for Highlanders.

“I never saw Josta at training, I never fired him, in fact I never fired anyone from Highlanders. I extended an olive branch to everyone and said let them come for training so that I see for myself. Some came but Josta and those that are already not here didn’t,” said Mafu during an interview after the Wednesday afternoon training session at Hartsfield Grounds.

He revealed that some of the players who made it into the final 42 had their names on the departure list but they heeded his call to come for training.

“Mthulisi Maphosa was also among the players that came for training until he was stopped because of his disciplinary issue. I wanted all the players that were playing for Highlanders to come for pre-season training which some did and others like Josta did not,” said Mafu.

Ngodzo, who is on a solo training schedule said his heart was still with Highlanders.

“After news that we had been offloaded some of us saw no reason why we should attend training because we also thought the coach would also not welcome us to his sessions.

“My contract expired last December yes but my heart is still with Highlanders, this is why I’m not training with any team,” said the stocky Ngodzo.

He is one of the three Ngodzo siblings who donned the famous black and white Highlanders jersey.

One of the seven players who was said to have left Highlanders, goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni, has since returned to the club probably because Munyaradzi Diya has joined How Mine.

On Wednesday Mafu said Maphosa’s fate will be decided by the disciplinary committee but there is a high likelihood that him and Ngodzo will make it into the 2015 Highlanders Football Club final squad.