Gwekwerere back at Dembare

Dynamos have been forced to turn to prodigal son Evans Gwekwerere to abate a player crisis looming at the Zimbabwean champions.

Gwekwerere's comeback will be complete today when the club adds the 28-year-old forward to their 2013 African Champions League squad list.

In a clear sign of desperation, Dembare have finally decided to give a chance to the former club darling, whose return to the Glamour Boys was initially blocked by some influential clubs officials.  

The imminent departure of chief strikers Rodreck Mutuma and Simba Sithole for South African clubs Bloemfontein Celtic and SuperSport United respectively has however forced the club to turn to a player once revered as a Dynamos club idol.

The deadline for Champions League player registration is 12 midnight today.

The record 19-times Zimbabwean champions will make three more additions to their squad.  

Gwekwerere, who walked out on Dembare exactly two years ago to join bitter city rivals CAPS United after falling out with the club's bosses, leads a list of players Dembare is expected send to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) today as late replacements.

The former Moroka Swallows and Jomo Cosmos striker claimed at the time that Dembare owed him part of his signing-on fees and winning bonuses from the previous season.

Gwekwerere however had an unhappy stay at Makepekepe, with his arrival coinciding with the club's slump in form in the last two years.

And for the better part of the season, Gwekwerere fought running battles with CAPS officials over disciplinary issues.

The Mbare-born forward quit the club last October to try his luck at Botswana champions Mochudi Centre Chiefs.

He returned to the country at the end of last year with the intention of re-joining Dynamos for a third spell, but he would face resistance from the club's board of directors, who ordered him to stop reporting for training.

The directors were apparently incensed by Gwekwerere's comments about the club when he left to join CAPS.

Recent events have however forced the Dembare chiefs to rethink their position after key men Mutuma and Simba Sithole were snapped up by South African clubs.

The two's departure has left coach Calisto Pasuwa with only one recognisable forward in Farai Mupasiri.

Pasuwa's woes have been compounded by reports that rookie Mupasiri, who impressed in his debut top-flight season last year, is also expected to leave for trials with an undisclosed Greek club next month.

Dembare have also, meanwhile, recalled striker Patrick Khumbula, who was loaned out to a number of clubs last season.

Khumbula first arrived at the Harare giants in 2011 under former coach Lloyd Mutasa, but the striker found his chances limited.  

Gwekwerere and Khumbula will be joined by Hwange forward Francisco Zekumbawire, who is expected to arrive in Harare anytime soon to join Dembare.

The Harare giants had been struggling to raise the $20 000 loan fee the coalminers were asking for the big forward.   

Dynamos also tried to lure FC Platinum striker Donald Ngoma from Zvishavane but their bid was rejected.

Initially, the platinum miners had placed a price tag of $60 000 on the forward, hoping it would deter Dembare.

But after receiving a substantial amount from the sale of Sithole and Mutuma, Dembare were now prepared to fund Ngoma's capture.

FC Platinum then changed goalposts and placed a "not for sale" sign on the forward.

Meanwhile, after being beaten to the signature of Hwange defender Aaron Katebe by Platinum, Dynamos have now lined up former Gunners centre-back Byrone Madzokere as his replacement.

The unattached Madzokere recently flopped during a trial stint with South African champions Orlando Pirates.