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Sikhumbuzo Moyo and Lovemore Zigara Sports Reporters
HIGHLANDERS have parted ways with injury-prone striker Ozias Zibande after the diminutive forward refused to extend his contract with the Bulawayo giants on the advice of his advisors.

Zibande broke into the Highlanders first team in 2012, but has only made four starts and come on as a substitute on six occasions, scoring five goals in the process.

Bosso coach Bongani Mafu accused Zibande of negotiating in bad faith.

“Zibande is gone; let’s not mince our words there and even if he was to come between now and the closing time for the transfer, I would not have him,” said Mafu at the club’s weekly Press conference yesterday.

Mafu sounded emotional about Zibande, a player gifted with a rare heading talent and sudden burst of speed when taking on opponents, saying it was so sad the player was relying on bad advisors.

“I’m very sad for Ozias. I think young people need professionals to help guide them in life. I value Zibande seriously as a Highlanders player, but the boy is badly advised and that’s sad,” said Mafu.

It is believed Zibande’s advisors are directors of a Mpopoma-based club who promised Welcome Ndiweni a stint in Cyprus, but the deal has since collapsed resulting in the former Bosso midfielder signing for Southern Region League side Bulawayo City.

Mafu said Zibande had walked away from negotiations a record four times after seemingly agreeing terms with Amahlolanyama.

He said the player would ask for some time to go through the proposed deal, only to sneak out of the club’s offices unnoticed.

It is not known where Zibande is headed to as he was unavailable to shed light on his next move.

Highlanders have also parted ways with truant former Bantu Rovers goalkeeper Takunda Mutanga and replaced him with Prosper Matutu, who has been recalled from a loan spell at Bulawayo City.

The Bulawayo giants have also signed Thembinkosi Simango from Zifa Northern Region side Ngezi and promoted Adrian Silla and McCathy Dube from the club’s juniors.

Mafu also revealed that Highlanders had not given up hope of landing prime target Ishmael Wadi from Bulawayo Chiefs before the mid-season transfer window shuts today saying the Southern Region League leaders’ stance had softened.

The Wadi deal had seemingly fallen through earlier this month after Chiefs demanded Bosso skipper Felix Chindungwe in exchange for the gunman.

“We’re still hopeful of getting Wadi as circumstances have changed,” said Mafu.

Brian Banda from Highlanders’ Division Two outfit would be promoted into the first team if the Wadi deal fails again.

Gweru-based Premiership side Whawha have secured the services of FC Platinum forward Nelson Maziwisa on a six-month loan spell.

The arrival of Maziwisa, a Golden Boot winner in 2012 after netting 17 goals, will bolster Whawha’s attack, which has only found the target nine times in 17 games.

The prisons and correctional services side has not been active in the transfer window after only capturing the signatures of Nigel Gandari and Clifton Mwale from FC Platinum’s developmental side.

The prison warders are still hopeful of swooping on another striker before the transfer window closes tonight.

“We’ve managed to secure the services of Nelson Maziwisa, who will be with us until the end of the season. He becomes our third signing during this transfer window and I’m confident we’ll be able to snatch one or two signings before the window closes,” said Musa Ntonga, the Whawha chairperson.

Maziwisa made his debut for Whawha yesterday when the prison warders took on Botswana topflight outfit Botswana Police in a practice match.

He will also get a chance to gel with his new teammates when Whawha take on Harare City at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma on Saturday in another practice match.

Whawha is taking advantage of the Premiership inactivity this weekend to support the Young Warriors’ clash with South Africa Under-23.

Whawha are second from the bottom with 14 points from 17 games.