Zimbabwe international and former Warriors forward Evans Chikwaikwai has joined Premiership newcomers Chicken Inn as the Bulawayo side bolsters its strikeforce ahead of the second half of the 2011 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube yesterday confirmed that the lanky striker signed a one-year contract with the GameCox two weeks ago but could not be drawn to give further details of the deal.
“It is a done deal. He signed with us for one year and he will be available when the PSL window period opens,” Ncube said.
The transfer window opens on July 1. Sources yesterday told NewsDay Sport that Chikwaikwai — who joined South African Premiership side Bidvest Wits in 2009 before being loaned to Mozambican side Liga Muçulmana for six months — will start training with Chicken Inn next week.
Chikwaikwai scooped the 2008 Footballer Star of the Year and Golden Boot awards in the country while playing for Njube Sundowns before he caught the eye of the Bidvest coaches the following year.
He scored 23 goals when he won the Golden Boot Award and Bidvest grabbed him mid-season after he had banged in nine goals in 11 games for Sundowns in 2009.
He was however dogged by injuries and after he failed to secure a contract with South African First Division Coastal Stream side Hanover Park, he was loaned to Liga Muçulmana.
During his six-month stint with the Mozambican outfit, Chikwaikwai scored nine goals in 13 matches.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
In April this year, Bidvest Wits’ communications manager Sithembiso Zikalala was quoted in the South African media saying the Students would not be taking back the former Warriors striker and would prefer him to remain on loan in Mozambique.
Chikwaikwai joins his former coach at Njube Sundowns, Philani “Beefy” Ncube, who is now the head coach at Chicken Inn.
In 2008, when Chikwaikwai was named Soccer Star of the Year, Beefy scooped the Coach of the Year Award and they also won the Independence Trophy together beating Dynamos 1-0.
Early this month, Chicken Inn signed another contract with former Botswana be-Mobile Nico United striker Tendai Ndoro as they seek their fortunes in their maiden campaign in the local league.
Chikwaikwai and Ndoro will fight it out with Chicken Inn’s top goalscorer Thomas Chimenya, Tendai Mukambi, Never Musvipa and DRC’s TP Mazembe returnee Daniel Zokoto in the strikeforce.
Chicken Inn captain Sikhumbuzo Banda, Musvipa, Heritani Masuku, Guide Goddard and Frank Mvula are all former Sundowns players.
Chicken Inn are perched on number four on the log table four points shy of joint pacesetters Motor Action and FC Platinum and a point behind third-placed Highlanders.
They host Monomotapa at Luveve Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
