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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS captain Innocent Mapuranga’s two-year deal with the Bulawayo giants expired on Monday and the club only extended his contract yesterday.Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede confirmed that the Bosso skipper had agreed to a 12-month extension on his contract and everything was now under control.

The inspirational Mapuranga penned a two-and-a-half-year deal with Amahlolanyama in 2012 and if he had decided to pack and go, the 3-1 Castle Lager Premiership win over army side Black Rhinos on Sunday would have been his last game for the title chasing giants.

Close associates told Chronicle Sport that Mapuranga had never shirked his allegiance to Highlanders and even assured the technical department led by Kelvin Kaindu that they needed not worry about the imminent expiry of his contract.

“He told them that unless the club no longer wanted him, he would remain at Highlanders.

“This was after concerns from the dugout on why there were no talks between the player and the club,” said the source.

This season Mapuranga has not been at his best probably because of uncertainty over his future as he wondered whether the club wanted him or not.

In terms of football statutes, a player can sign a pre-contract with a club of his choice if he has six months or less of his contract remaining.

The source said Mapuranga held talks with the Highlanders chief executive officer and veteran football administrator Gumede yesterday morning.

It is believed Mapuranga wants to stay at the club for another one-and-a-half years.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Gumede confirmed holding talks with the club captain.

“His contract expired on Monday, June 30 but I am happy to say that we had fruitful discussions this morning (yesterday) and we agreed on another 12 months,” said Gumede.

Asked why the club had to leave it until late to extend the captain’s contract, Gumede, who took charge of the Bosso secretariat last month, said negotiations had been going on.

Gumede said the club had since asked the technical department to indicate the players they would want to retain from those whose contracts are expiring this year.

Some of the players whose contracts expire this year are Peter Moyo and Milton Ncube who have since left for South Africa, on loan Kudakwashe Mahachi, Cleopas Dube and Charles Sibanda.

Mgcini Sibanda is on his way to Bantu Rovers.

“Bantu have written to us and we replied them that they can have him on loan but if they want a permanent move then they have to come for negotiations,” said Gumede.

The talented Zimbabwe youth international has seen little game time at the ever demanding side despite shining for the national Under-17 side in Lesotho.

Meanwhile, Highlanders are looking for a natural gunman and a right back and are already in talks with their targets but Gumede could not release their names yesterday.

“The technical team have told us that they need someone upfront with a killer instinct because they were disturbed after the Dynamos game when we had just a single shot at goal for the whole match,” said Gumede. The single shot was taken by Simon Munawa, a stand-in right back.