BY FORTUNE MBELE
FORMER Warriors and Dynamos midfielder Carrington Gomba is contemplating retracing his footsteps to Hwange, where he started playing his top football about 15 years ago.
Gomba (36) suffered a career-threatening knee injury while playing for his Zambian side Red Arrows last year and has since returned to his base in Hwange, where he trains with the coalminers, who were relegated to Division One in 2019.
The former Dynamos man, poached from Chipangano in 2008, told NewsDay Sport that he was assessing the situation at the coalminers before he could make a decision on his future.
“I suffered a knee injury early last year in Zambia, but I am now fit and thinking of what step to take next. I train with Hwange from time to time, but because of COVID-19, the sessions are not regular. I am just watching the progress at Hwange before I make a decision, but at the moment, it’s not that clear. I am just monitoring the situation,” Gomba said.
He said once everything returned to normal and Division One football was ready to start, he would seriously consider a contract with his boyhood club.
“The door is still open. I am considering signing for Hwange. It will be good for me if Hwange show some progress and start playing football. I haven’t thought of retiring as yet. It’s just that this COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted my plan, but I am giving myself one-and-a-half to two years to see if I can still run and then I can gauge myself because, to be honest, the mileage is now not on my side,” Gomba said.
Hwange coach Bongani Mafu is excited at the prospect of having Gomba in his squad as Chipangano seek a quick return to the Premier Soccer League.
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The former Warriors assistant coach confirmed Gomba’s presence at Hwange’s training sessions.
“He (Gomba) has not signed. He has not indicated any intention or any programme to sign but he is here and he has been coming to train with us here and there,” he said.
“Actually, Hwange Colliery Company has not signed any new player for the club this year. They have been paying salaries during COVID-19 without any football activity and if they are to sign any player, they will be obliged to start paying him. But honestly, I would not mind having Gomba in my team,” the former Highlanders gaffer added.
If Gomba signs for Hwange and the club returns to top football action, he might be rubbing shoulders in the Premiership with his teenage son, Hamilton, who has been captured by Dynamos.
Gomba started playing for Hwange in 2006 at a tender age before he attracted Dynamos in 2008 when the Glamour Boys were playing in the Caf Champions League, where they reached the semi-finals.
He stayed for four seasons at the Harare giants before joining the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side FC Lupopo in 2010 and three years later, he crossed the floor to CS Don Bosco.
In 2018, he moved to Zambia for Red Arrows, where he suffered the knee injury that almost curtailed his career.
He played for the Warriors between 2006 and 2009 under different coaches that include Charles Mhlauri and Sunday Chidzambga.
- Follow Fortune on Twitter @FortuneMbele
