Zimpapers Logo

Luke Masomere

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe national team goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura and Nonjabulo Dube are likely to be among casualties whose contracts will not be renewed at How Mine FC with coach Luke Masomere announcing that he is on the lookout for two goalkeepers.Mazarura and Dube are among nine How Mine players whose contracts run out on December 31.

The joint-league top goalscorer with 12 in his account Kudakwashe Musharu, Gilbert Banda, George Magariro, Brighton Dube, Timothy January, Thembani Masuku and Edmore Muzanenhamo are reportedly waiting for the club to offer them new deals.

After conducting a two-day trial that ended yesterday at the How Mine complex, Masomere confirmed looking for goalkeepers to strengthen the department that Young Warriors’ Donovan Bernard ended up comfortably commanding.

“We’ve managed to identify seven players from the 80 or so players that attended trials. They are three defenders, two midfielders and two strikers. Because of contractual ties that the players find themselves in, we’re unable to give out names of those that have made the grade as we’re yet to verify their availability from their clubs. We also want two goalkeepers to strengthen the department,” said Masomere.

The goldminers are likely to retain the services of Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year finalist Musharu, a key figure in their survival fight.

Masomere is likely to release either Banda or Magariro as he tries to build a team for the future.

Brighton, January, Masuku and Muzanenhamo will have to wait for a week to know their fate and Masomere wants to afford ample time for those that are leaving to find new bases.

“By end of next week we’ld have finalised on who is staying and who we’re releasing from our old players. We don’t want to be selfish and unprofessional by holding onto players that we know we won’t need their services next season,” he said.

The much-travelled Masomere who has had coaching stints with Hwange, defunct former Premiership champions AmaZulu, Dynamos, Shabanie Mine and Buffaloes, said he was “blessed” to have had an opportunity to assess the players during the season.