Zimbabwean striker Knowledge Musona’s value appears to have fallen significantly amid reports that German club FC Augsburg are paying a fee of just €100 000 (about R1 million) to TSG Hoffenheim for his loan move for this season.
The former Kaizer Chiefs striker, who moved to the Bundesliga after finishing top scorer in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League, failed to make an impact in his debut season in the Bundesliga.
He was subsequently sent out on loan to fellow Bundesliga side Augsburg in the hope that he would get more game time.
Despite scoring regularly for the national football team, the Warriors, in the recent African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Burundi, Musona’s failure to get more game time at TSG Hoffenheim seems to be the main reason why Augsburg are paying such a low fee for his services.
“TSG Hoffenheim paid €1,3 million to Chiefs for the speedy striker this time last year, but are now getting less than one-tenth of that back for the coming season, official figures around the agreement have revealed,” Supersport reported yesterday.
However, while Augsburg are paying such a low fee for Musona’s loan move, a respected international website which rates player values still rates the former Aces Youth Academy player highly.
According to the website, Musonas’ current market value has remained €1 500 000 (£1 300 000) since moving from Kaizer Chiefs.
The 22-year-old is likely to have a better chance to rebuild his career and further boost his market value at Augsburg where he is guaranteed of seeing more regular action in the German top flight.
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Last season, Augsburg narrowly avoided the drop after finishing in 14th in their debut season in the Bundesliga and have high hopes of staying up again this season.
Musona has been busy in the pre-season friendlies with Augsburg coach Markus Weinzerl giving him more opportunities — albeit as a winger rather than out-and- out striker.
He is, however, yet to open his account after starting in the last three pre-season friendly matches for his new team. Augsburg get their league campaign underway with a home game against newly-promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf on August 25.
Last year, Scottish giants Celtic manager Neil Lennon wrote to Chiefs owner Kaizer Motaung to announce his intention to sign the league’s leading goal scorer and made a firm offer, but were beaten to the player by Hoffenheim.
Musona recently quit the Warriors after being accused of “improper association” with suspected match fixers and has since demanded an apology from Zifa before he can bounce back.
Musona demanded an apology through his lawyer Misheck Hogwe who, ironically, is part of the Zifa Northern Region disciplinary structures.
Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo, though, has been in touch with the player and remains confident he will play in the next 2013 Afcon qualifiers against Angola in September and October.
