Bosso defender signs for SA side Maritzburg United

HIGHLANDERS FC have struck gold and will pocket a sizeable fee for the signature of leftback Khumbulani Banda who has been snapped up by South African Premiership side Maritzburg United.

Banda, 24, joined Highlanders at the beginning of the year from How Mine, signing a three-year contract with the Bulawayo giants and in just under six months, the dreadlocked player has been signed by the KwaZulu-Natal club.

Former Warriors midfielder Edzai Kasinauyo brokered the deal.

What makes the deal even sweeter for the player is that when he came to Highlanders, he was meant to be cover for Bruce Kangwa and only made two second half league appearances as well as one full cup game against Harare City in the Independence Cup third place play-off for Bosso.

His league appearances are less than an hour with the medium built Banda's first league game coming when he replaced Rahman Kutsanzira in the 57th minute during Highlanders' 4-0 drubbing of Caps United in Week Six. Last month he was a second half replacement for Erick Mudzingwa at Gibbo Stadium where they played to a 1-1 draw with Triangle.

Highlanders' chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede confirmed receipt of a letter from Maritzburg United, expressing their desire to sign Banda.

"My chairman has been busy over the weekend in touch with Maritzburg United officials who have in turn made an official communication to say they are interested in our player Khumbulani Banda who has made the grade. About the figure involved you will be briefed once we agree on it as we have started the negotiation process," said Gumede.

A product of the once vibrant Railstars junior policy, Banda had always been on the Highlanders' substitute bench hoping to grab his opportunity at Bosso but the big break came when the Steve Kompela's Maritzburg United coached side came calling.

He was nurtured at Railstars before joining former Premiership side Bantu Rovers in 2009 who he played for a season before he was whisked away by Dynamos.

At DeMbare, Banda fought for the leftback position with Augustine Mbara and was part of the Dynamos squad that played in the 2010 edition of the Caf interclub competition. That squad had the likes of former Highlanders goalkeeper Washington Arubi, Cuthbert Malajila, George Magorimbo and Thabani Kamusoko among others.

Banda then packed his bags at the end of the 2010 season and headed to Zvishavane to join the then cash-rich FC Platinum after penning a three year deal. At the beginning of the 2013 season, FC Platinum released Banda to How Mine where he commanded a regular starting place for the better part of the season.

The versatile Banda can also play as an attacking midfielder and is comfortable with winning ground as well as aerial tussles.

His departure means that Highlanders should start hunting for a left back who will give stiff competition to Kangwa who of late has been relaxed in the absence of a challenger.

Gumede said Banda's departure is testimony to their policy which is not to hinder players from seeking greener pastures.

"Banda's move is an indication to those people who only think that it is only through signing short term contracts that they can be able to have less constrained moves. They are wrong, look, Banda was just less than six months into his three-year contract and when an opportunity for greener pastures came we let him go. It is our wish for him to use Maritzburg United as a conduit to other better paying leagues in Europe," Gumede said.

Meanwhile, Mkhululi Dube, who was signed by Bosso from New West and loaned to Trumus Warriors of Victoria Falls, will spend the next half of the season at FC Platinum.

Gumede said they had given the Zvishavane side the green light to use the attacking winger until the end of the season.

Dube was not part of Highlanders' technical team's plans at the beginning of the season and had to get game time elsewhere.