BY TERRY MADYAUTA Premier Soccer League giants Dynamos are plotting to raid the FC Platinum camp in the hope of luring a number of disgruntled senior players who will also be out of contract at the end of the month.
The January transfer window already promises to be as exciting as the league itself, with Dynamos and Highlanders plotting to bolster their teams in anticipation of a tough league marathon next year.
Both are armed with a transfer kitty of US$60 000, which is part of their sponsorship package from Sakunda Holdings.
Highlanders have their eyes firmly fixed on FC Platinum forward Stanley Ngala, whose stay at the Zvishavane club has been indifferent, especially that he has been mostly restricted to the bench.
FC Platinum coach has opted to go for more youthful players and some senior players have been left out in the cold.
Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya is keen on taking advantage of the situation and lure such players to his dressing room.
Some of the players on DeMbare’s radar include Ngala, Silas Songani, Ralph Kawondera and Donald Ngoma.
DeMbare managed just one goal in their first two matches of the league campaign after beating Yadah 1-0 before a defeat to Triangle by the same scoreline.
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Sources at FC Platinum told NewsDay Sport that most of the players signed during Heindrikus Pieter de Jongh’s brief stint at the club are likely to move on, if any offers present themselves as they have been sidelined on most occasions.
“Some of the players could join Dynamos or any team, but Dynamos is the most likely destination. Some of them have not been playing, while others will be out of contract at the end of this month,” the source said.
“These days, the coach is preferring youngsters and that is why some big names have not been playing. Most of the players that have been left in the cold are those that the current coach didn’t sign.
“The good thing is that the team has been doing well, with the younger players that are being given an opportunity. The first success is the Chibuku Super Cup and we are hoping for more.”
A Dutch, De Jongh was kicked out of the Zvishavane-based club after Confederation of African Football (Caf) barred him from sitting on the technical bench because he did not possess the mandatory Caf A coaching licence to take charge of the team in the African safari.
When he left, the club leadership said it was “for the greater good of the club”, citing the decision by Caf as their leverage.
However, his departure seems to have somehow spelt doom for some of the players he signed as they have found it hard to get game time.
Denzel Khumalo and Congolese forward Ellie Ilunga are some of the players that have been left in the cold.
Only Brian Banda has been preferred by Mapeza, while Songani, Dzvinyai and Kawondera have had limited appearances.
A number of youngsters have thrived under Mapeza’s guidance, having formed the backbone of the team that won the Chibuku Super Cup.
In the campaign, Mapeza introduced 18-year-olds Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, Oscar Bhebhe, Panashe Mutimbanyoka and Thubelihle Ndlovu, who have taken up the opportunity presented to them.
- Follow Tery on Twitter @madyautatpm
