Former Footballer of the Year Clement Matawu is back in the country and could be registered by former club Motor Action for the 2012 Caf Confederation Cup.
Deadline for the registration of players is December 15. Club chief of protocol Simeon Jamanda on Wednesday revealed the skilful midfielder is set to make a sensational return to the team that gave him fame.
“Clement Matawu has always been our son and we can welcome him back home at anytime,” said Jamanda.
“He is back in the country because of an injury he sustained while in Poland, but we have decided to give him another chance to revive his career.
“He is coming back to start again, just like Cuthbert Malajila has done with Dynamos. We haven’t assessed his injury as yet, but whatever the outcome is, he remains our son.
“He hasn’t started training with us because of the injury, but as soon as the pain subsides he will be back with the team.”
“We are hoping he will be fit by the time the Confederation Cup games start. We want a player of his calibre in the team if we are going to do well in the competition. Clement has said he wants to go back to Poland and the Confederation Cup will be a good opportunity for him to market himself again.
“We are going to meet as an executive and the technical team tomorrow (today) to see areas that need to be beefed up,” said Jamanda.
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The 27-year-old Matawu reached the peak of his game in 2006 when he was voted the best player that season before being snared by Polish League second-tier Towarzystwo Sportowe Podbeskidzie Biesko in 2009.Armed with raw skill, the agile midfielder known for tricking opponents was snapped up by Polish top-flight league side Polonia Bytom last summer.
However, his career has been blighted by injuries in his maiden season at the new club, forcing the team to offload him in June this year.Matawu’s inclusion in the Motor Action ranks will add more firepower and experience to the team that will be making a swift return to the African jungle, after their first participation in the continental games last year ended unsatisfactorily.
The Joey Antipas-coached side participated in the Caf Champions League, but the show ended prematurely as the team crashed out in the first round.
While that drab show in Africa’s premier club competition was blamed on the financial difficulties Motor Action found themselves in prior to the games, the downfall had much to do with the thin player base at the team.
Antipas yesterday — without giving away names of players he intends to buy — said he would definitely go on the market to strengthen his squad.
“Yes, like any other club who are going to participate in a continental competition we are definitely going to add some players. The biggest problem for us has been the strikeforce. We need an outright striker who can give us goals.
“We need to improve from our last participation on the continent. It was our first time last year and we didn’t do that well, but we now have experience. We now know what is expected in these competitions,” added Antipas.
Meanwhile, Motor Action decided last night they will participate in the Caf Confederations Cup with or without the Mbada Diamonds Cup financial assistance.
Mbada had pledged, through their contract with the Premier Soccer League that they will provide $150 000 for the team that will take part in the tournament, presumably the winners.
Dynamos won the trophy on Sunday after beating Motor Action 1-0, but opted for the Champions League meaning, even as cup winners, they miss out on the financial package from Mbada as they are not participating in the Confederation Cup.
Mbada Diamonds Holdings will meet today to clarify what then happens if the winners opt for another tournament like Dynamos.
Part of section 12 of the rules and regulations of the tournament on prize money reads:
“12.1 The prize money will be paid after the finals by way of an electronic bank transfer, into the provided details of the particular club’s bank account, latest the following Wednesday after the final, unless circumstances beyond control occur. 12.2 Winners 12.2.1 USD 75 000 (seventy-five thousand United States Dollars only) cash. 12.2.2 A floating trophy 12.2.3 USD 150 000 (one hundred and fifty thousand United States dollars only) worth of accommodation and air ticket sponsorship subsidy to participate in the Caf Confederation Cup.
This shall be paid directly to the service providers at the time services are required. This subsidy shall be used to procure USD25 000 (twenty-five thousand United States dollars only) worth of kit sponsorship.
The sponsored kit shall be made available a fortnight before the kick-off of the winning team’s first match for the 2012 Caf Confederation Cup tournament.”
