Highlanders have approached FC Platinum over some of the Midlanders’ offloaded players with a view to build a strong squad for the 2012 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
The former champions have been given the green light to assess the players before negotiating with the platinum miners.
The players include defensive linkman Mthulisi Maphosa, midfielders Simon Njeleza and Bhekimpilo Ncube, defender Brighton Dube and goalkeeper Tapiwa Marime.
Highlanders secretary Andrew Tapela yesterday said it was up to head coach Kelvin Kaindu to decide on the players.
“They (FC Platinum) have given us the green light to assess the players. We have had discussions with them. Some of them have trained with us. It is up to the coach to decide if he wants the players who are at training with us.
“I get direction from the coach. My job is to negotiate with the clubs and register players but as the executive, we will get direction from the coach and then we can head back to FC Platinum for talks. The public must understand that we are not saying we have signed these players,” Tapela said.
Platinum secretary Phil Muvengwa, however, said it was still too early to comment on the players saying due processes had to take place before he could say anything on the players.
“I am not going to comment on those players for now. Why don’t we wait for the right time?” Muvengwa said.
- 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
Maphosa trained with Bosso last week and played in the friendly match against Chrome Stars at the weekend while sources said Njeleza, who trained with Chicken Inn, is reportedly back at his former club Hwange.
Ncube is also said to be on his way back to former club Motor Action while Dube, who left Highlanders with the Ngodzo brothers Zephaniah and Joel at the beginning of the 2011 season, has been appearing at Bosso’s practice sessions, but not training.Marime, a Media and Society Studies student at Midlands State University, was part of the FC Platinum (Mimosa) outfit that was promoted to the Premiership last year and has been training with Highlanders.
Meanwhile, former Hwange captain Gerald Ndlovu also trained with Highlanders last week and played in the weekend friendly match against Chrome Stars in Midlands.
Andrew Chuma, another transfer-listed former Hwange player, has been training with Bosso and played in a friendly match against Quelaton at Luveve Stadium.
Sources say defender Obert Moyo, who had also been linked to Highlanders, could be on his way to Caps United in Harare.
Moyo told NewsDay Sport in Hwange at the weekend that he would be joining Highlanders this week but he was in a no-show yesterday.
Tapela yesterday said if Kaindu was interested in Ndlovu, Bosso would soon be negotiating with Hwange for the defender, who could partner Innocent Mapuranga in the heart of defence if he joins Highlanders.
Highlanders played two friendly matches against Chrome Stars in Kwekwe on Sunday and triumphed in both, winning the first 3-1 and the second 1-0.
Bosso, hard-pressed to come up with a strong team after a dismal show last year, are still making efforts to sign Zambians striker Nasha Kaaya from Forest Rangers and 18-year-old midfielder George Mubita, a product of GHM Academy.
