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Platinum chase Bots hitman

Sport
Castle Lager Premiership side FC Platinum are chasing the signature of Botswana be-Mobile Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Zebras sharpshooter Joel Mogorosi to reinforce their strikeforce ahead of the 2012 Caf Champions League, NewsDay Sport can reveal. An impeccable source said negotiations between the Moneybags and Chiefs are at an advanced stage and the Botswana side […]

Castle Lager Premiership side FC Platinum are chasing the signature of Botswana be-Mobile Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Zebras sharpshooter Joel Mogorosi to reinforce their strikeforce ahead of the 2012 Caf Champions League, NewsDay Sport can reveal.

An impeccable source said negotiations between the Moneybags and Chiefs are at an advanced stage and the Botswana side are asking for a cool 500 000 pula (about $66 000/R555 000) for the forward.

The source said FC Platinum officials were in Botswana last week to hold talks with Mochudi Centre Chiefs, the be-Mobile league pacesetters coached by former Warriors and Highlanders coach, Madinda Ndlovu.

“The FC Platinum officials were in Botswana. They are chasing after Joel, but I hear the asking price for the player is just too much. Chiefs want half a million pula for the striker and they say it’s the signing-on fee they paid him from Township Rollers,” the source said.

If the deal pulls through, it will be the first time that a player from Botswana plays in the Zimbabwe’s top-flight football league.

FC Platinum secretary-general Philemon Muvengwa yesterday said he was not sure about any particular name, but head coach Rahman Gumbo had made some proposals.

“There is nothing concrete yet. I am not sure about the name, but the coach (Gumbo) has made proposals. When we started pre-season preparations, we had players from Malawi, Zambia and Botswana who had keen interest in joining us,” Muvengwa said.

Mogorosi played under Gumbo at Chiefs in 2010 in the be-Mobile League and is currently in camp with the Zebras, who are preparing for their maiden appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2012.

He is the current top goalscorer after notching 20 goals in 16 matches

The striker left Township Rollers for Cyprus in 2006 where he played for AEP Paphos before joining APOP Kinyras Peyias the following year.

He then returned to Rollers in 2008, where he captained the side before signing for Mochudi Centre Chiefs in 2010.

The 27-year-old forward, known for his fast play and nimble feet, scored his first international goal against Togo on September 4 2010 and his second against Sweden on January 19 2011.

The winger was on trials with South African Absa Premiership side SuperSport United and was involved in a botched move to champions Orlando Pirates early this year.

Gumbo has come up with a strong squad for the Champions League and the platinum miners have enlisted the services the Gunners trio of Ali Sadiki, Qadr Amin and Michelle Katsvairo.

Former Highlanders skipper Gilbert Banda and midfielder Louis Matawu, Masvingo United goalkeeper Francis Tizayi, Hardlife Mavundi, Welcome Ndiweni and Shabanie Mine’s Rowan Nenzou and Simon Shoko have also joined the great trek to Platinum FC.

The Moneybags also registered Zambian Frank Mlambo, who turned out for Likalamba Leopards.