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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
SPEEDY Bulawayo Chiefs’ forward Ishmael Wadi’s intended move to Highlanders has collapsed after the two clubs failed to agree on the terms of the deal.

Wadi’s planned move to the struggling Bulawayo giants was meant to give coach Bongani Mafu a fresh attacking dimension, but Wadi will now spend the remainder of the season in the lower league.

The player, who has been on fire for Chiefs, saw his dream of playing for one of the biggest clubs in domestic football going up in smoke after Chiefs and Bosso failed to agree on terms.

A disappointed Bosso coach Mafu told journalists at the Highlanders offices yesterday how Wadi, who was supposed to be a surprise feature against Triangle United at Gibbo Stadium last Sunday, was forced to miss the trip following clearance complications.

The Highlanders gaffer said he was forced to drop Wadi for the Lowveld trip last Saturday morning after being informed that the Premier Soccer League had noted an anomaly in the player’s clearance from Chiefs.

Although Mafu could not be drawn into stating the clause that collapsed the deal, Chronicle Sport has it on good authority that Chiefs inserted a clause in the clearance stating that they could recall the player should they need him.

“Wadi’s case is a sad one in football. We had engaged Chiefs, our executive ran around to secure his services and we even included him in our plans for the Triangle game, but his club included a certain clause which led to his registration being turned down. The young boy failed to travel with us and couldn’t play for his side because of that. Come Monday, I was surprised when Chiefs wrote demanding my captain (Felix Chindungwe) saying we failed to honour part of the deal. Never was Chindungwe part of the bait and now we have to live without Wadi,” said Mafu.

Initially, Highlanders had agreed to swap Valentine Ndaba for Wadi, but the midfielder declined to move to the lower division.

In preparing for life without the speedy forward, who was also on Chicken Inn’s radar, the Bosso coach has promoted McCarthy Dube from their Division Two developmental side.

Mafu declined to reveal names of his mid-season targets, but hinted recalling utility player Peter Muduhwa who is on loan at Chiefs.

Muduhwa can play in defence or in midfield and could fill the slot left by Welcome Ndiweni, who quit the club last week and is on his way to Cyprus.

“I don’t want to jack-knife at Chiefs but Peter has developed well playing for them. I haven’t made a decision whether to recall him or not. Peter can fit in well in Nqobizitha Masuku or Teenage Hadebe’s places as they will be away for the better part of September, participating at the Africa Games with the national Under-23s,” said Mafu.

Besides Ndiweni, Highlanders parted ways with former skipper Innocent Mapuranga and Simba Sithole.

Ozias Zibande whose contract expires on July 31 is yet to engage the club on a new deal.

Bosso has already lost teenage striker Thomas Chideu, who was confirmed as a new signing by South African Premiership club Ajax Cape Town yesterday alongside Prince Nxumalo from SuperSport United.

Chideu signed a three-year deal after being acquired for an unspecified amount.

The duo was signed after impressing coach Roger de Sa during their trial at the club.

“We welcome both Prince and Thomas into the Ajax family. They are both great additions to our squad. I’m sure our Ajax fans will warm up to them very quickly as both players will contribute immensely to our attack force. I have no doubt that they will both succeed at Ajax Cape Town,” said Ajax CEO Ari Efstathiou.

Chideu will make his debut for Ajax when the Urban Warriors play in the eTV Charity Showdown at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria tomorrow.

Chideu’s place at Highlanders would be filled by his former Prince Edward High teammate Obert Tafira, 18, who has been signed after impressing during his two-month trial.