Bosso looking for a gunman

HIGHLANDERS are yet to finalise their 2014 squad amid revelations that the former league champions are still searching for a striker.

Team registration closed last Friday, but the Zifa transfer window will shut on March 31, giving the former champions three weeks to tie up business.

Southern Eye reorted that a source told them that the head coach Kelvin Kaindu has no faith in Mkhululi Dube, who joined Bosso from Division One side New West City while Knox Mutizwa and Douglas Sibanda are on their way out.

Since the beginning of the week Kaindu has maintained that there were some issues that they were sorting out before they release the final team.

"We have not finalised the squad. There are still a couple of things that we need to sort out, but we are almost done," said the Zambian gaffer yesterday.

"We are almost there. There is still time. If there are any new players that want to try their luck, they can still come. We still have room to see what can be done at administrative level," he said.

Dube played in the first half of the friendly against FC Platinum, but was pulled out for Gabriel Nyoni.

Mutizwa on the other hand has been linked to neighbours Chicken Inn. Highlanders had five strikers in their books - Gabriel Nyoni, Dube, Ozias Zibande, Cleopas Dube and Mgcini Sibanda. Cleopas Dube, who was on loan at Plumtree Chiefs (then Bulawayo Chiefs), was recalled to the Highlanders team.

On the Canadian striker Phillippe Barriault and goalkeeper Jean-Felix Lemieux from First Mobile Sports Academy (FMSA), Kaindu had this to say: "They have been with us, they are still with us and they are part of us."

The two, brought into the country courtesy of FMSA director Isaac Mbedzi who is based in Canada, played for a Highlanders second-tier side in a curtain-raiser match against Division One side Black Boots before Bosso beat FC Platinum 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium.

Assistant coach Mark Mathe was in charge on that day when Highlanders also played veteran defender Zvenyika Makonese who has been trying his luck at Bosso.

Zambian striker Matthews Macha from Nchanga Rangers who played for Zanaco when Kaindu was at the Zambian side also tried his luck with Bosso, but only for a day before he went back home.

"I did not bring him (Macha) to Highlanders. He came on his own and he just trained once and left," Kaindu said.

Bosso have been busy on the market this season snapping some of the big names and most sought after players in local football.

Highlanders retained Ariel Sibanda, Munyaradzi Diya, Bruce Kangwa, Eric Mudzingwa, Innocent Mapuranga, Dumisani "Fazo" Ndlovu, Hillary Madzivanyika, Mthulisi Maphosa, Simon Munawa, Milton Ncube, Peter "Rio" Moyo, Nyoni, Mgcini Sibanda and Ozias Zibande.

Bosso off-loaded Lawson Nkomo, Bruce Tshuma, Bhekimpilo "Barca" Ncube, Ashford Katsande, Master Masitara, Heritein Masuku, Tinashe Chipunza, Beavan Chikaka, Ryan Howes and Arnott Malaba.

Nkomo and Barca have reportedly joined Chicken Inn together with Zephania Ngodzo, who also tried his luck with Bosso after the Gamecocks did not renew his contract.

Free agent Masimba Mambare went to Dynamos, Njabulo "Tshiki" Ncube joined FC Platinum while Bobby Nkomo joined Chicken Inn.

The Bulawayo giants grabbed Njabulo Nyoni, Khumbulani Banda, Felix Chindungwe, Rahman Kutsanzira, Joel Ngodzo, Charles Sibanda, Kuda Mahachi, Valentine Ndaba and Welcome Ndiweni.