Sports / Soccer
Bello dumps Dembare
03 Feb 2014 at 13:48hrs | Views
Gift Bello has dumped champions Dynamos to join fellow Castle Premiership rivals FC Platinum on an undisclosed contract.
Bello, who is arguably one of the best central defenders in the country, made the switch to Mandava Stadium Friday.
The previous day the Dynamos hierarchy had refuted claims that the defender was on his way out of the champions' dressing room.
FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizondo said: "We haven't yet signed sign him but the situation on the ground is that we are interested in Gift Bello. We have started necessary communication and once a deal is reached we will make it public."
But the Daily News on Sunday has it on good authority that the deal to bring the Mbare-born defender to Zvishavane was sealed on Friday.
The defender was last spotted at the Glamour Boys training session last Wednesday.
A source close to the negotiations says that the platinum miners are trying to be diplomatic and not to strain relations with DeMbare which are already on frosty ground since 2011 when Platinum were promoted into the top flight league.
"The club has learnt from its past mistakes when it was called all sorts of names after getting some of the best players in the Premiership in 2011. Even when some of the players came in as free agents just like Bello, most people didn't understand and branded the club bullies, who use their financial muscle to get what they want," said the source.
"So this time around the club is so cautious for fear of creating unnecessary tension with local clubs and wants to do their business quietly."
Bello, who is one of the most underrated central defenders in the country, is highly rated by Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa who was his coach at Kiglon.
Mutasa was also the same person who brought Bello to Dynamos back in 2011 when he was still contracted with the Harare giants.
The former Zimbabwe national team assistant coach is a long time admirer of the centre half and they are now going to be reunited in Zvishavane.
Speculation is also rife that midfielder Devon Chafa might also follow suit and dump DeMbare to join FC Platinum.
Chafa, who is currently serving a 6-month Fifa doping suspension, also played under Mutasa at Kiglon and Dynamos.
The platinum miners, who finished fourth on the log standings last season, have been busy on the transfer market during the off season by bringing in Walter Musona, Wisdom Mutasa, Stephen Sibanda, Tarisai Rukanda and Njabulo Ncube.
Mutasa and his technical team believe they can mount a serious title challenge in the forthcoming season after reinforcing their already vastly experienced squad from last season.
Platinum have already released Joel Ngodzo, Mehli Sibanda and Welcome Ndiweni, who all struggled for game time last season. The future of midfielder Charles Sibanda is also still up in the air and all indications point that he might be going to Highlanders.
Bello, who is arguably one of the best central defenders in the country, made the switch to Mandava Stadium Friday.
The previous day the Dynamos hierarchy had refuted claims that the defender was on his way out of the champions' dressing room.
FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizondo said: "We haven't yet signed sign him but the situation on the ground is that we are interested in Gift Bello. We have started necessary communication and once a deal is reached we will make it public."
But the Daily News on Sunday has it on good authority that the deal to bring the Mbare-born defender to Zvishavane was sealed on Friday.
The defender was last spotted at the Glamour Boys training session last Wednesday.
A source close to the negotiations says that the platinum miners are trying to be diplomatic and not to strain relations with DeMbare which are already on frosty ground since 2011 when Platinum were promoted into the top flight league.
"The club has learnt from its past mistakes when it was called all sorts of names after getting some of the best players in the Premiership in 2011. Even when some of the players came in as free agents just like Bello, most people didn't understand and branded the club bullies, who use their financial muscle to get what they want," said the source.
Bello, who is one of the most underrated central defenders in the country, is highly rated by Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa who was his coach at Kiglon.
Mutasa was also the same person who brought Bello to Dynamos back in 2011 when he was still contracted with the Harare giants.
The former Zimbabwe national team assistant coach is a long time admirer of the centre half and they are now going to be reunited in Zvishavane.
Speculation is also rife that midfielder Devon Chafa might also follow suit and dump DeMbare to join FC Platinum.
Chafa, who is currently serving a 6-month Fifa doping suspension, also played under Mutasa at Kiglon and Dynamos.
The platinum miners, who finished fourth on the log standings last season, have been busy on the transfer market during the off season by bringing in Walter Musona, Wisdom Mutasa, Stephen Sibanda, Tarisai Rukanda and Njabulo Ncube.
Mutasa and his technical team believe they can mount a serious title challenge in the forthcoming season after reinforcing their already vastly experienced squad from last season.
Platinum have already released Joel Ngodzo, Mehli Sibanda and Welcome Ndiweni, who all struggled for game time last season. The future of midfielder Charles Sibanda is also still up in the air and all indications point that he might be going to Highlanders.
Source - dailynews
