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Kudakwashe Mahachi

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S next best export, Kudakwashe Mahachi sneaked into the country on  Sunday afternoon from his 10-day  trial stint with French giants AS Monaco before flying out last night to join his new South African team Mamelodi Sundowns.Mahachi, in a telephone interview from Harare last night as he waited to  board his flight to South Africa, said the Monaco stars like Berbatov and Falcao  were very supportive and kept on encouraging him during his trial period.

“The guys there treated me like I was already part and parcel of the team. They never showed any signs of belittling me or making me feel it that I was on trials,” said Mahachi .

He said even the coach Leonardo Jardim never treated him like a player on trials although the major pain was the language barrier.

“I don’t know a single word of French so I was relying more on the assistant coach who would translate for me what the head coach would have said but football is a universal language on its own,” said the 2012 Soccer Star of the Year finalist and last year’s second runner up.

Even though the French side are yet to state their position on whether they will have him in their books or not, Mamelodi Sundowns are confident that the slim-built former Highlanders junior, Bantu Rovers and Chicken Inn player will make the  grade. In fact the deal could be sealed as early as next week, according to the Absa Premiership champions’ spokesperson Kabello Mosito.

“They (AS Monaco) are yet to come back to us but all along they have been telling us that the boy has been impressive, so get back to me sometime next week we might be having something concrete,” said Mosito during a telephone interview from South Africa yesterday.

The Warriors player said while training facilities were far advanced compared to those back home, the actual training fields were the same.

Asked on what the club said after his trial period, Mahachi said AS Monaco would communicate with his employers, Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I don’t talk to them directly but they will talk to my club,” he said.

The former Mzilikazi High School  pupil played in all the friendlies that the French side were involved in and in  the process scored two goals while providing one assist, a pass to Brazilian defender Fabinho.

The ginger haired Mahachi bade farewell to the Highlanders supporters and wished them good luck in their campaign for the league title.

“Sengihambile but I will forever have fond memories,” said Mahachi.