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Kudakwashe Mahachi

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
IN three weeks’ time, the football mid-season transfer window opens and a lot of activity is expected in the Premiership with players moving from one club to the other.
The transfer window will open on July 1 and close at midnight on July 31.
Champions Dynamos, Highlanders and Hwange will lose players to South African teams where they have found new homes in the next three weeks.
The national team trio of Kudakwashe Mahachi, Peter “Rio” Moyo and Milton Ncube of Bosso will join South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Ajax Cape Town respectively.

Dynamos will lose goalkeeper George Chigova to Supersport United with Hwange’s defence stalwart Eric Chipeta going to Chippa United.
In an interview yesterday, Highlanders’ coach Kelvin Kaindu said he would replace the trio and might add some players to beef up his squad during the mid-season transfer window.

Bosso is in dire need of a natural right back if their championship aspirations are to be taken seriously as makeshift right back Simon Munawa’s defensive abilities have been exposed many times. He has been a great liability.

On Sunday FC Platinum’s speed merchant Marshal Mudewe had a field day opening an avenue through Munawa’s channel.
However, Kaindu continues to stand by his player with the Zambian expatriate saying it has not been easy to have two players for each position because of the PSL regulations to register 25 over 20 years old players and five juniors. The registration policy was amended at the beginning of the year and it seems the Highlanders gaffer is in the dark about the development that saw clubs being allowed to register 30 players who are above 20 and five juniors.

“I cannot comment on the number for registration because I don’t know whether PSL has increased that but what I can say is that I know there have been concerns (referring to right back) as we shuffled one or two positions in defence but the guys have done well. In terms of our structure of balancing the team, it has been difficult to have two players per position with the juniors who are the future taking time to adjust to the system.

“As for additions, we will be losing three of our key players who are going to seek greener pastures and those are the areas that need immediate replacements but at this stage we cannot say who will be joining us as that depends on who is available,” Kaindu said.

This means that so far Highlanders will have two vacant places in midfield and will also need a striker who will replace Ncube.
As for midfielders, Bosso’s main worry might be that of Mahachi who has been playing regularly than Moyo who has been facing stiff competition from Welcome Ndiweni. Valentine Ndaba can be a direct replacement for Mahachi.

Another position Bosso might need to shop around for is the anchorman’s role. They need a ball winner who will pass accurately as he initiates attacks. Of late the club has been handicapped in that Erick Mudzingwa and Munawa have had so many stray passes in their game.

Highlanders registered 24 seniors and five junior players.
Second placed Hwange, who are having a fairytale 2014 Premiership run, a point behind Highlanders after the first third of the season, have said they will use their five available slots for juniors.

“We will not be releasing any players but we will definitely bring in some of our juniors and may be two or so senior players that will add value to our strike force and goalkeeping areas. Otherwise for defence and midfield, we will promote our juniors who we have been monitoring.

“If Chipeta goes, that position will definitely be filled by our junior product because there is abundant talent here in Hwange and as a club we believe that it is our responsibility to give top flight football platforms to deserving local boys,” said Hwange coach Nation Dube.

How Mine, who are third on the table with 18 points from 10 matches, want strikers to complement the league’s top goal scorer Kuda Musharu with eight goals.
“I need two more strikers but so far so good. Things seem to be going according to plan and I believe in the squad that I have. What is important is for players to compete effectively for positions and that makes it healthy for me as a coach. We have a big experienced squad and there are some players that have not had regular game time not because they are bad but because those that we have been using have been delivering. What’s the use of changing a winning formula? To those that are yet to feature much in the league, this is the time to challenge me as a coach by giving me more at training. Players have to make it difficult for me to omit them from the match day squad and I like players that are fighters and who work hard,” said the miners coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube.

FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa, whose side held Highlanders to a 1-1 draw at the weekend, has given his players a week to decide whether they want to be with the Zvishavane club or not.

Mutasa is happy with his squad and is keen to retain all his players having already lost Ali Sadiki to former African champions TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“What we have done is to talk to the lads so that they open up and those that want to leave for greener pastures elsewhere have this week to notify us. Obviously there are players that might have a change of heart and will want to move on but as the technical team we are happy with the players that we have and what they have done so far even though results may not be reflective of the work we are doing,” Mutasa said.

Just like Hwange, cash-strapped Shabanie Mine FC coach John Phiri is focusing on bringing on board juniors.
“Players always come to try their luck whenever the transfer window opens but my focus is on Under-20 players. I believe in giving youngsters a chance to shine and that is where my focus will be. As for positions, I haven’t made up my mind as to which ones we are going to fill,” Phiri said.