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Bantu Rovers utility player for Bosso

Sport
AFTER Zifa Southern Region Division One side Bantu Rovers failed to make a return to the Premiership on the last day, utility player Kevin “Scopo” Sibanda is seeking to try his luck at Highlanders, come 2013.

AFTER Zifa Southern Region Division One side Bantu Rovers failed to make a return to the Premiership on the last day, utility player Kevin “Scopo” Sibanda is seeking to try his luck at Highlanders, come 2013. REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

Sibanda (22), who played for “Tshintsha Guluva” in the Premiership when they bought Eastern Lions’ franchise in 2009, yesterday said his eyes were now on the 2012 Castle Lager Premiership runners-up Bosso.

The utility player — pillar of relegated Zimbabwe Saints midfield in the top-flight league last year — said he would soon be approaching his bosses at Bantu Rovers for clearance.

Sibanda is tied to Bantu Rovers until December next year and he hopes to make the grade at Bosso when the pre-season trials start next year.

“I am yet to meet with my bosses at Bantu Rovers where I still have a running contract. I have tried to be patient, but I am no longer happy playing in Division One. Next year I hope to join Highlanders. I think I am now mature. I played for Bantu Rovers when I was young before we were relegated and I was loaned to Zimbabwe Saints last year. I guess it’s high time I tried my luck with a big team now,” Sibanda said.

Bantu missed on a chance for a return to the Premiership on the last hurdle losing 1-0 to Hwange-based Rufaro Rovers, who were Division Two bound.

One the same day, How Mine earned a place in the Premiership after beating police side Black Boots 1-0 away from home, while Tshintsha Guluva were dumped at home.

Bantu needed a win or just a draw from Rufaro to return to Premiership action, but that was not to be.

“It was painful losing to Rufaro that day and I remember that straight from that match, I went home and slept thinking my dream of playing Premier football had again been shattered. But I believe with hard work if I go to Highlanders, I will definitely make it,” Sibanda said.

Sibanda is a product of AmaZulu Football Club juniors. He played for Pioneer in Division Two in 2004 before he left to pursue secondary education at Pamushana High School in Masvingo.

He was top goalscorer with five goals in the Barclays Under-20 football tournament while at Sobukazi in 2007 and player of the tournament in the same tournament the following year when he had moved to Pamushana.

He was part of the Pamushana team that lost to Churchill High School in the final of the Nash Coca-Cola Under-20 football tournament in 2008, before he came back to Bulawayo to join Bantu Rovers.

At Bantu Rovers, Sibanda played with former Premiership players Gilbert Banda, Johannes Ngodzo and Abraham Mbaiwa.

Meanwhile, a highly placed source at Caps United has quashed rumours that forward Leonard Fiyado could be leaving the “Green Machine” next season.

The source said Fiyado, who joined “Makepekepe” mid-season from Gunners, is to stay at Caps United.

The former Gunners striker said Caps United had not paid him his signing-on fees from June and was desperate for greener pastures.