CAPS United midfielder and Soccer Star of the Year finalist Hardlife Zvirekwi has reportedly expressed interest in joining Premier Soccer League champions Dynamos ahead of their African Champions League campaign.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA/FORTUNE MBELE
Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa was expected to meet with other members of his technical team yesterday to come up with a list of players they are targeting ahead of the forthcoming season.
However, it is understood that Zvirekwi is among the players on Dynamos’ wish list.
Zvirekwi — one of the best midfielders in the country and also a key member of the Warriors — was recently spotted at Dynamos’ offices, heightening speculation that he is set to sign for the reigning champions.
“The technical team will be meeting today (yesterday) to come up with a list of the players they want,” said a source.
The list will then be submitted to the executive for approval. Once that is done, negotiations with the players’ respective clubs will then start.
The Dynamos executive has already said there will be a few additions to the squad in preparations for the new term.
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Monomotapa forward Ronald Chitiyo and Highlanders’ Masimba Mambare have also been linked with a move to the Harare giants.
The Highlanders forward has, however, refuted the reports linking him with Dynamos and maintains his future is still with Highlanders. But some reports have suggested he will join newly-promoted side ZPC Kariba.
Chicken Inn are also reported to be chasing the signature of Chitiyo.
Dynamos, crowned Zimbabwean champions for the third successive season after beating Highlanders and Harare City on goal difference, have confirmed their willingness to participate in the African Champions League.
However, their participation is subject to them getting sponsorship for the prestigious inter-clubs tournament.
The champions’ principal sponsor BancABC advised them last week they would not be able to bankroll their Champions League campaign next term although they undertook to continue funding their operations on the domestic scene.
Dynamos are currently looking for a sponsor to bankroll their Champions League campaign and yesterday the club executive was also expected to meet to chart the way forward. Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha said: “We will be meeting as an executive to map the way forward. We will be able to know the direction we are taking regarding the issue of our sponsorship after that meeting.”
Dynamos will be seeking redemption this time around after they exited the prestigious competition in the first round last season.
Dynamos were finalists in 1998 under Sunday Chidzambwa and also reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2008 under the guidance of David Mandigora.
Confederation Cup representatives How Mine Football Club will bring in 10 new players into their squad for the competition.
The gold miners will be taking part in the continental showcase as winners of the Mbada Diamonds Cup, Highlanders, are not eligible.
How Mine head coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube said the Premiership new boys, who journey into Africa after only a season’s dance with top-flight football, were looking at beefing up their squad in all the departments and bring in 10 new players into the fold.
“By December 10 to 15 we will know which players are coming on board and we are looking at beefing up the squad by bringing in 10 players as we prepare for the Confederation Cup. We will be bringing in new players for all the departments as we also build a squad for the coming season,” Beefy said.
Clubs taking part in the Champions League and Confederation Cup, Dynamos and How Mine, have until December 31 to have registered a contingent of 30 players which can be amended by January 15 next year after which the list would be final.
Speculation had been rife after How Mine lost the Mbada Diamonds Cup to Highlanders on Saturday at Barbourfields Stadium that skipper Hebert Dick and midfielder Menard Mupera would be hanging their boots, but Beefy yesterday said the two players had not approached him in that regard.
Dick was said to being touted for the manager’s post at the gold miners while Mupera was said to be retiring.
On the eve of the Mbada Diamonds Cup final, Dick said he would only retire if How Mine beat Highlanders on Saturday, an indication the veteran defender believes his legs can still carry him.
“Well, I have not heard anything; they have not approached me,” Beefy said yesterday.
One of the players on How Mine’s radar is Mandlaenkosi Sibanda, who is based in Botswana and was last year called up to the national team that was preparing for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi.
Also targeted by How Mine is Caps United’s dreadlocked midfielder Tendai Samanja and Aces Academy goalkeeper Donovan Bernard.
