Highlanders are on the verge of signing two Zambian international players, Nasha Kaaya and George Mubita, who started training with the Bulawayo football giants at Milton High School yesterday.
Kaaya (27) last year played for the Zambian KCM Super Division club Forest Rangers while Mubita (18) is a product of GHM Academy. Mubita is a member of the Zambia Under-20 and Under-23 national teams.
Highlanders manager Amin Soma-Phiri yesterday told NewsDay Sport negotiations to secure services of the two players were at an advanced stage .
Kaaya is a striker and scored 10 goals for Forest Rangers last season while Mubita is an attacking midfielder.
“The two Zambians are with us, they are training with us. The coach has not seen them yet as he is away in Harare. Kaaya arrived yesterday (Tuesday) while George (Mubata) came into the country on Saturday.
“We are at an advanced stage regarding the signing-on of the two players and I cannot say anything more than that,” Soma-Phiri said.
Highlanders head coach Kelvin Kaindu, his assistant Bekithemba “Super” Ndlovu and goalkeepers’ coach Tembo Chuma are away in Harare attending a one-week high-level coaching course facilitated by German Fifa instructor Eric Rutemoller.
The two Zambian nationals trained with the rest of the Highlanders players under academy coaches Mark Mathe and Siphatho Ncube.
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However, a source privy to Kaaya and Mubita’s coming into the country said the two players were free agents and the former was supposed to join Highlanders last year, but his travel documents were not in order.
“The players’ transfers are being organised by friends of Highlanders in that country and there is no connection between them and Kaindu.
“When Nasha came last year, his passport was about to expire and the club feared they would have trouble getting him a work permit. They are free agents and what Highlanders has to get are international clearances from the relevant authorities,” the source said.
The signing-on of the two players might be affected by the impending executive elections due to be held on Sunday.
Soma-Phiri yesterday said Highlanders would be coming up with their 30-member squad for the 2012 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season after the friendly match against Botswana’s BMC at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
He said plans were underway to go into a pre-season training camp in due course.
