Defending champions Dynamos and Highlanders will start the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season tomorrow without their new Adidas kits following the failure by their supplier to deliver them on time it, has emerged.
THANDIWE MOYO
The two giants, though, are still hoping that something dramatic happens in the 24 hours before the opening league matches.
Highlanders play ZPC Kariba at Gwanzura while Dynamos are at home to Buffaloes at the National Sports Stadium.
Both teams confirmed to our sister paper Southern Eye Sport yesterday that they were still yet to receive their new strip with supplier Edzai Kasinauyo, the proprietor of E-Sport, Adidas’ designated agent in Zimbabwe, saying he was out of the country and could only speak to this publication next week.
Dynamos president Keni Mubaiwa said they had also not received their 2015 strip as well with secretary-general Webster Chikengezha saying they had opted to buy their own.
“We were supposed to receive the kit, but we have not. We have made a number of follow-ups, but we were not told on when we are getting it,” Mubaiwa said before referring all questions to Chikengezha.
Chikengezha said: “We were promised that we were going to get it and for the past two weeks we have been making follow-ups. We were told that we would get it by Monday, but nothing has happened and we have resorted to buying our own.”
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Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede said they had been promised that it would be delivered by last night.
“We have not received our kit as yet. We are meant to get it via E-Sport and Kasinauyo confirmed last night (Wednesday) that it would be ready by this afternoon and would send it through courier services for it to get here either in the evening or in the morning tomorrow (today),” he said.
Gumede said they had since told Kasinauyo that they would be travelling to Harare this morning for their encounter against ZPC Kariba and that they would collect the kit from there.
However, he said they had made provisions in case there are mistakes on the strip and they would settle for their old gear.
“We have made a contingency plan to carry our old kit just in case there are any problems. It is unfortunate that it has taken this long because we started asking for the kit at the beginning of the year and we were told that it was still being worked on. We had to contact our sponsor BancABC, who in turn spoke to the supplier and they were also told that it is work-in-progress,” said Gumede.
Kasinauyo through E-Sport were contracted by BancABC to act as a middleman between Adidas and the teams.
When contacted for comment Kasinauyo said he was out of the country.
“Can’t you call me next week? I am out of the country and my phone is on roaming and it is expensive on me,” he said before hanging up.
Meanwhile, Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu says the absence of some of his players will not deter them from their aim to get a win.
“We will be away and a win is a priority for us. Some of our players are not in the team and are out on injury while some are on national duty.
“However, that should not be an excuse. If we can play and win without those players then we are on track,” he said.
Simba Sithole, Ozias Zibande, Rahman Kutsanzira, Godfrey Makaruse are injured while Knox Mutizwa was admitted recently at Mpilo Hospital with severe burns on his back. Highlanders are also without Thomas Chideu, Nqobizitha Masuku and Teenage Hadebe who are in Harare for national duty.
ZPC Kariba assistant coach Godfrey Tamirepi said they will be without goalkeeper Tendai Hove, who is out injured, adding that for them it would be a difficult game.
“It’s going to be a difficult match. Highlanders will be out to win considering that last season we got four points from them. However this is also a difficult ball game altogether considering that they have new players and a new coach,” he said.
Tamirepi said they have to pick up where they left off last season and play well. ZPC Kariba finished second in their maiden season.
