REIGNING Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Dynamos midfielder Stephen Alimenda yesterday finally reported for the club’s pre-season training to give the club a boost, but there was still no word on striker Washington Pakamisa.
HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
Alimenda missed the league champions’ first two days of pre-season training and had been reportedly seen in Chiredzi with reports suggesting that he was angling for a move to fellow Premiership side Triangle.
But the ginger-haired midfielder, a Soccer Star of the Year finalist last season, pitched up at Prince Edward School yesterday morning where he joined up with those that have reported for training so far. He immediately quashed rumours linking him with a move away.
“Honestly, I don’t know where those rumours emanated from because I was at home in Kwekwe and I had made it known to my coaches,” said Alimenda.
“The rumours that I was spotted in Chiredzi are not true. I was never in Chiredzi in recent weeks and I’m not intending to move away from Dynamos. I have a contract with the team and I intend to see it through. I want to let the fans know that I’m here to stay. “It’s good to see my teammates again and I’m looking forward to the new season,” added Alimenda.
Alimenda’s fellow midfielder Cliff Sekete, who missed the first day of training, also reported for duty yesterday.
Ocean Mushure, who asked for compassionate leave, is still away, but is expected at training anytime this week.
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The team had their final day of physical tests yesterday with normal training expected to start this morning.
While Alimenda and Sekete have rejoined the squad, Pakamisa is still to report for duty, giving credence to reports that he has signed for a Mozambican side.
Pakamisa, who was Dynamos’ joint top goal scorer with Rodreck Mutuma last season, is reportedly in Maputo where he is said to have signed a contract with Premier League side Liga Muçulmama.
Dynamos coach David Mandigora yesterday said he did not know the whereabouts of the striker.
“I’m just hearing reports that he is in Mozambique, but I don’t know if it’s true or false. I had expected all the players to be here by now, but that’s how transfer windows are,” said Mandigora.
Pakamisa still has a year on his contract with Dynamos. He is one of a host of senior players, albeit with expired contracts, who are yet to report for duty. Devon Chafa, Tafadzwa Rusike, Simba Sithole, Rodreck Mutuma, Russel Madamombe, Thomas Magorimbo and Murape Murape’s contracts expired at the end of the year and were as expected in a no-show although it is understood some of them are negotiating with the club to renew the deals.
Tawanda Muparati and Themba Ndlovu have moved to their new clubs How Mine and Harare City respectively while Ronald Chitiyo is already in South Africa with his new second-tier division team Eagles.
Democratic Republic of Congo import Fabrice Mbimba has not also started training with the rest of the team.
Mbimba is in the country, but has excused himself from training saying he is not feeling well.
