Transfer window's movers and shakers

WHAT a week it has been on the local football transfer market with so many movers and shakers.
Focus has been on Bulawayo giants Highlanders who lost two of their key players Masimba Mambare to Dynamos and Njabulo "Tshiki" Ncube to FC Platinum.

Even at a time when they seemed to have been shocked by the departure of the duo that they were negotiating with, Highlanders also managed to end their week on a high retaining a number of their last season's players.

Developments that key players in their last campaign have been retained should be sweet music to Highlanders' followers.

Midfield maestro Mthulisi Maphosa who has been among the outstanding players in the last two seasons at Bosso yesterday extended his stay at the club by two years in a deal totalling $35, 000.
According to sources Maphosa signed for $5, 500 with the remainder set to be the total for his salary for the next 24 months.

Highlanders' deputy captain Erick "Tsiba"Mudzingwa also put pen to paper yesterday in an undisclosed deal.

Sources told Chronicle Sports that the club has closed in on Joel Ngodzo and the player is expected to put pen to paper this morning.

Bosso have also retained Bhekimpilo "Bhaka" Ncube, Heritein Masuku and Lawson Nkomo who were among the list of players that were on their way out.

"Maphosa and Mudzingwa signed after the morning training and Josta (Ngodzo) spent the day busy working on opening an account with Bosso sponsors BancABC after meeting the Highlanders negotiating team of Jerry Sibanda and Andrew Tapela.

"A lifeline has been given to Bhaka (Bhekimpilo), Lawson and Hery (Masuku) as they were also retained," said the source.

Contacted for comment Ngodzo could only say; "I will be with Highlanders on Monday as per my earlier promises."

Good news for Highlanders supporters as reported by this publication yesterday that goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya who is with the national team in South Africa relocated his family to Bulawayo has reportedly given his brother Tichaona Diya power of attorney to sign on his behalf.

With Munyaradzi making a commitment to Highlanders, his vote of confidence sends the message that he still believes that Bosso can dominate the league.

The club remains hopeful of retaining Peter "Rio" Moyo and Milton Ncube who are with the national team in South Africa as well as add ex-Hwange, Motor Action and FC Platinum striker Charles Sibanda.

Meanwhile, Chicken Inn announced yesterday that they are not retaining hard-tackling defender Zephaniah Ngodzo and veteran striker Evans Chikwaikwai who spent the better part of last season either on the terraces or warming the bench.

"Basically the guys have been attending gym and according to information we are getting from our technical team most of our last season players are training. Some of the guys that have been released include Zephaniah Ngodzo and Evans Chikwaikwai. Mkhokheli Dube has also not been attending training but next week we should know better when the guys start training in the ground," said Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube.

He confirmed that central defender Morgan Mungombe who was with relegated Monomotapa has been training with the Gamecocks.