Sports / Local
Ralph Matema keen on Bosso return
06 Sep 2015 at 18:20hrs | Views
FORMER Highlanders striker Ralph "Banolila" Matema is keen to finish off his career at the club he left for South Africa eight years ago.
Matema started training with Highlanders last Thursday "just to stay fit" while waiting for his South African work permit to enable him to turn out for his Absa Premiership side Jomo Cosmos.
"I am just training with the team. If I was not contracted to Jomo Cosmos, I would have joined Highlanders. I still have a year left on my contract. I still want to come back and wear the black and white colours,'' said Matema yesterday.
However, sources privy to Matema's return to Highlanders disclosed that the player returned home from South Africa after communicating with the Bongani Mafu led technical team and informed them that he was a free agent. Interestingly, he started training the day Mafu, his assistant Mandla Mpofu, goalkeepers coach Peter Nkomo and team manager Netsai Moyo were sacked by the club over poor results which saw the team languishing on the 10th spot on the log with 25 points from 21 matches.
"Ralph Matema called the former technical team and indicated that he wanted to finish off his career at Highlanders. There is a slot for one player and that is why he was encouraged to come. It is a pity when he arrived the people who had asked him to return home had been fired,'' said the reliable source.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele yesterday said he could not comment on a player who is not registered with the league, adding that clubs know requirements for players to be registered under any circumstance.
Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede pointed out that Matema was just training with the club and the technical team led by Cosmas "Tsano" Zulu will make it known if they want him. Zulu declined to say if they do need the player, his reason being that he is not allowed to speak to the media outside the club controlled Press briefing held every Thursday.
The 33-year-old striker has been in South Africa where he has over the years played for Orlando Pirates, Witbank Spurs and Jomo Cosmos. He left Highlanders for Pirates in 2007 after being the club as well as the Premier Soccer League top goal scorer in 2006 with 19 goals when Bosso last won the championship.
Matema formed a deadly partnership upfront for Highlanders with Obadiah Tarumbwa who is also back at the club on loan from Bantu Rovers.
He failed to make a mark at the Buccaneers where he had signed at the same time with Malawian Joseph Kamwendo who was playing in Zimbabwe for Caps United. Matema then spent a number of years at Witbank Spurs in the National First Division before he signed up for Jomo Cosmos in the same league last season and despite Ezenkosi earning promotion to the Absa Premiership this season, Matema was not registered since he does not have a South African work.
Matema started training with Highlanders last Thursday "just to stay fit" while waiting for his South African work permit to enable him to turn out for his Absa Premiership side Jomo Cosmos.
"I am just training with the team. If I was not contracted to Jomo Cosmos, I would have joined Highlanders. I still have a year left on my contract. I still want to come back and wear the black and white colours,'' said Matema yesterday.
However, sources privy to Matema's return to Highlanders disclosed that the player returned home from South Africa after communicating with the Bongani Mafu led technical team and informed them that he was a free agent. Interestingly, he started training the day Mafu, his assistant Mandla Mpofu, goalkeepers coach Peter Nkomo and team manager Netsai Moyo were sacked by the club over poor results which saw the team languishing on the 10th spot on the log with 25 points from 21 matches.
"Ralph Matema called the former technical team and indicated that he wanted to finish off his career at Highlanders. There is a slot for one player and that is why he was encouraged to come. It is a pity when he arrived the people who had asked him to return home had been fired,'' said the reliable source.
Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede pointed out that Matema was just training with the club and the technical team led by Cosmas "Tsano" Zulu will make it known if they want him. Zulu declined to say if they do need the player, his reason being that he is not allowed to speak to the media outside the club controlled Press briefing held every Thursday.
The 33-year-old striker has been in South Africa where he has over the years played for Orlando Pirates, Witbank Spurs and Jomo Cosmos. He left Highlanders for Pirates in 2007 after being the club as well as the Premier Soccer League top goal scorer in 2006 with 19 goals when Bosso last won the championship.
Matema formed a deadly partnership upfront for Highlanders with Obadiah Tarumbwa who is also back at the club on loan from Bantu Rovers.
He failed to make a mark at the Buccaneers where he had signed at the same time with Malawian Joseph Kamwendo who was playing in Zimbabwe for Caps United. Matema then spent a number of years at Witbank Spurs in the National First Division before he signed up for Jomo Cosmos in the same league last season and despite Ezenkosi earning promotion to the Absa Premiership this season, Matema was not registered since he does not have a South African work.
Source - online
