FORMER Hwange defender Aaron Katebe will join his new teammates at Dynamos earlier than anticipated to start preparations for the Caf Champions League after he was left out of Zambia’s provisional squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.
Sports Reporter
Zambia will participate in the finals set to start on January 19 and end on February 10 in South Africa.
Katebe joined Dynamos at the beginning of the month and was subsequently registered by the league champions for the African expedition.
However, Hwange is challenging the legality of the contract, claiming the 20-year-old defender is still contracted to the Colliery side.
Zambia Premier League team Zanaco, which is coached by former Dynamos coach Keegan Mumba, has also showed interest in the highly rated defender, but Katebe has publicly stated that he wants to play for the Glamour Boys.
The lanky defender who is currently in Zambia was left out of the 26-member squad that was announced by Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard earlier this week.
Had Katebe made it into Herve’s squad for Afcon, he was likely to miss Dynamos’ first match in the Champions League.
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Dynamos begin their Champions League campaign with a match against Lesotho Correctional Services in the preliminary round in February, just a week after Afcon.
Should Kalisto Pasuwa’s men sail past the Lesotho side as expected, they would meet either Libyan outfit Ettihad or Tunisian side Club Berzet in the first round.
African champions Al Ahly lie in wait in the second round.
A source at Dynamos yesterday said despite Hwange’s claims that Katebe was still contracted to them, the defender had already signed a deal with the champions.
“Katebe is officially a Dynamos player now. He signed a three-year deal some two weeks ago and a deposit of $9 000 for his signing on fee was made into his BancABC account in Zambia. All the formalities have been concluded and the player should be in the country on Monday next week,” said the source.
The source also claimed that new signing Ugandan Boban Ziruntusa was also expected in the country on Monday.
Other new players that are expected to join when the long training camp starts include Hwange striker Francesco Zekumbawire who is on a one-year loan, the former Monomotapa duo of midfielder Russell Madamombe and goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi.
Former Motor Action defender Morris Kadzola, veteran midfielder Stephen Alimenda and Sydney Linyama formerly of Chicken Inn are also part of the new cast expected at Dynamos’ training ground next week.
