Highlanders to offload nine players

HIGHLANDERS will release nine players from their 2013 squad to pave way for new recruits in a move meant to end their seven-year league title drought. Bosso have, in two consecutive years, lost the title on an inferior goal difference to Dynamos.

Although the identity of the players could not be confirmed as the club is putting a tight lid on them, well-placed sources within the echelons of the Mbada Diamonds Cup winners said the technical team had on Monday submitted a wish list of nine players - the same number as those who will be offloaded.

"There are five players that will definitely go while the other four have been put on standby in the event that negotiations for new players fail to yield any positive result," said the source.

The source, however, declined to reveal the names of the targeted players as well as those that are set to be released but information gathered from other sources indicated that Bruce Tshuma, goalkeeper Archieford Katsande, Master Masitara and Tinashe Chipunza could be among players that are set to part ways with Highlanders.

Tshuma, while a utility player who can play in any part of the defence as well as an anchorman in midfield, has been struggling to get some game time, often competing for the right back position with Lawson Nkomo.

Katsande was once the club's second choice goalkeeper but since the arrival of Munyaradzi Diya, he has slipped down the pecking order to third.
Second half recruits, Chipunza and Masitara have totally failed to justify their presence at the club.

"The club wants to have a good start next year so before the end of the month I am almost certain that the squad will be in place," said the source.

Highlanders chairman Peter Dube confirmed that they would be loaning out some players while others would be released.

"We are already busy looking at what the coaches recommended. I would not want to say we are offloading as such because some of the contracts are running out while other players will be loaned out so that they get some game time," he told Chronicle Sport.

He added: "The process of talking to targeted players is already in full swing but we know there could be some who will come on their own probably due to the way the club is run".

FC Platinum players Joel Ngodzo, Thabani Kamusoko, Charles Sibanda and Welcome Ndiweni have told close associates that they want out of the platinum miners and would retrace their steps back to Highlanders.

Chicken Inn right back Tonisani Sibelo has also been linked with the Bulawayo giants.

Lanky Mandla Sibanda, who has been playing in Botswana, is said to be also keen to join Highlanders while Ali Sadiki wants to play for the team that made his elder brother Tapuwa Kapini, a star.

Asked on the future of the coaches who also have their contracts running out this month, Dube promised the Highlanders followers that a technical team would be in place before pre-season training starts next year.

Meanwhile, Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu left Bulawayo for Zambia yesterday for a short break. He is expected in the city early next week for the Bosso awards and to work on his 2014 team.