Former Highlanders and national team midfielder Honour Gombami has parted ways with the Belgian top-flight league club Cercle Brugge and is set to join Second Division side Antwerp after his former club said it would be a risk to renew his contract.
Gombami suffered a career-threatening injury when he tore his meniscus and back cartilage on the right knee in an away match against KER Genk on November 2, 2009.
Gombami confirmed the development to NewsDay Sport in a telephone interview from his Belgian base yesterday.
“My contract with Cercle Brugge ended end of last month and the club did not renew it. They said it was a risk for them to renew the contract since I had stayed long without playing football due to the inury. I played three games, but I was not fully fit. I am now finalising on a deal to move to Second Division side Antwerp. We are tying loose ends to the deal,” he said.
“I am not bitter that Cercle Brugge did not renew my contract. I appreciate that the club kept me for two and a half years when I was injured. I am grateful that they kept me for that long when I was injured,” he said.
Gombami added he was not worried about moving from the top-flight league to a lower division club.
“Some will say I have gone a step down because I am now going to play in Division Two, but I believe that if I am good enough I will return to the premier league. I am not yet fully fit, but I believe that my leg will heal and I will be fine. The league is starting next month and if we play as a united team well we will be promoted into the Premiership,” he said.
He said he was happy that his former club Highlanders were playing well in the local league.
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“I have been reading on the Internet that Highlanders are playing well. It is good for them to go for 15 matches unbeaten. They have a winning mentality and that is good for them. They have to continue working hard,” he said.
Gombami was part of the Highlanders championship-winning team of 2006 under the tutelage of Methembe Ndlovu. Tapuwa Kapini, Ralph Matema, and another Belgium-based player Vusa Nyoni were also part of the team.
