IT looks like new Harare City Football Club coach Taurai Mangwiro has raided his former club Caps United once again with reports yesterday suggesting that goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube has joined the Sunshine Boys, becoming the third high-profile player to join the ambitious club this month.
HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
They have already made their intentions clear by signing two established players in midfielder Tendai Samanja and defender Temba Ndlovu who were both among the 11 Soccer Star of the Year finalists in the just ended season.
And after convincing Samanja to link up with him at City, it appears Mangwiro has returned to haunt his former club again.
The social media was awash yesterday with reports suggesting that Dube has also joined the bandwagon and a source at the club said more deals would be signed soon.
Speaking to NewsDay Sport yesterday, Harare City Football Club secretary general Mathew Marara confirmed that they had signed Samanja and Ndlovu, but refuted claims that Dube had also joined.
Marara said his club is looking at signing at least five players as the team look to launch an onslaught on the league title next season.
“We have concluded two deals so far, that of Samanja and Ndlovu. That is as far as I’m concerned. We have not spoken to Caps United about Dube and we haven’t engaged the player himself, so those are just rumours which cannot be substantiated,” Marara said.
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“We are looking at five positions which we think need some reinforcements. So I think at least five new players will join the club in the current transfer window. We are still negotiating and we will let you know when the deals are done.”
A source yesterday disclosed that Harare City’s shopping list also included last season’s Soccer Star of the Year Dennis Dauda of ZPC Kariba and Hwange’s highly-rated striker Evans Rusike who has been earmarked to fill the position being left by Francesco Zekumbawira, who is heading for the South African Absa Premiership.
After a disappointing 2014 season that saw them survive relegation on the last day of the league campaign, it appears City do not want to go through that nerve-wrecking experience again.
In fact, they have set their sights on winning the title next season and their actions on the transfer market are evident to that.
They have started bolstering their squad from the top by assembling a very strong technical department which would be led by Mangwiro, who will be assisted by Mkhuphali Masuku, Mike Madzivanyika and Witness Mnkuli.
The team also unveiled an experienced junior development structure that will be headed by David George, who will be working with Masimba Dinyero and Elvis Chiweshe.
Meanwhile, Dynamos have made their second major signing of the transfer window after capturing Godknows Murwira from relegated Shabanie Mine and the league champions are expected to announce two more big signings before the New Year.
Club secretary-general Webster Chikengezha told NewsDay Sport that the highly-rated 21-year old utility player penned a two-year deal yesterday.
“He has signed two years and we are happy that we have managed to convince such a young talented player to join us. We are still negotiating with the other prospective players and we are hoping to conclude the deals in the next two days. We are not signing a lot of players though because we want to promote our players from the junior system. We will recall a number of young players we loaned out last season,” Chikengezha said.
He did not give the financial details involved, but a source close revealed that Murwira was given $6 000 as signing-on fees, spread over the two years. Murwira spent last season at Shabanie Mine where he was deployed as a striker and scored three goals.
However, the former Monomotapa player is also comfortable playing as a right-back and in central defence. He has also played in midfield before.
He becomes Dynamos’ second major capture in the transfer window after midfielder Kelvin Bulaji who joined from Caps United.
Bulaji is seen as an ideal replacement for the departing Ronald Chitiyo who is heading for South African Division One side Royal Eagles.
A source yesterday said the club is close to capturing Danisa Phiri from Chicken Inn, while negotiations for Bulaji’s former teammate Dominic Chungwa and unheralded Zivanai Mhanda are said to be going on.
Mhanda plays for World Navi Northern Region Division One side Mushowani Stars and the attacking midfielder was voted the league’s best player last season, earning himself a chance to go for trials with different Japan teams.
Phiri and Chungwa are expected to put pen to paper before Thursday, while Mhanda’s deal, according to the source, depends on the outcome of his trials. “The Danisa deal is as good as done. It has been made simple by the fact that the player is dying to join Dynamos. He has been pushing for this move since last season,” the source said.
Another source said Dynamos had also made an audacious attempt to prize away Hardlife Zvirekwi from Caps United and it is understood negotiations have commenced. Both parties have, however, refuted the claims.
The Harare giants, who parted way with coach Kalisto Pasuwa last month and replaced him with David Mandigora, have also started negotiations with some of their players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the year.
