Sports / Local
Bosso raid Bantu again
04 Mar 2015 at 12:31hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS FC have fired goalkeeper Liberty Chirava for indiscipline and are hoping to replace him with Bantu Rovers' Takunda "TK" Mutanga.
Sources within Bosso said Chirava incensed the Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu when he refused to share food with the rest of the players on their way back from Victoria Falls where they had gone for a team bonding exercise last week.
"Libero (Chirava) is no longer training with us. Actually he was told to look for another club last week because of the tantrums he threw when we were at Halfway Hotel on our way back home. We were put in groups of about five to six so that we could share food but he refused and that really didn't go well with the coaches," said the source.
Chirava, whose contract with Chicken Inn was not renewed at the end of last season, had been seen as suitable cover for Ariel Sibanda and Njabulo Nyoni.
The stout goalie had fallen down the pecking order at the Gamecocks with Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas preferring Elvis Chipezeze ahead of Chirava. The fastfood outlets sponsored club also brought on board Pride Zendera from Swaziland which further pushed Chirava down the ladder.
With the transfer-window closing on March 31, Chirava has four weeks to find a new home.
On the other hand, Highlanders are moving swiftly to make sure that they get Mutanga, 24, on a permanent deal according to sources.
Mafii was diplomatic in his response on why the club fired Chirava.
"We're in the hunt for a third young goalkeeper who will push the seasoned duo of Sibanda and NyonL Chirava is no longer with us because we realised that he didn't understand the club's modus operandi. We thought of going our separate ways after noticing that we were going in different directions," Mafu said.
Quizzed on why he was taking Mutanga instead of promoting a goalkeeper from their junior ranks, the Bosso coach said: "By a younger player I don't mean a token junior who won't add value to the squad. I need someone who will compete for a first team place, someone who I will be able to give five or so starts. I believe that Mutanga is a young goalkeeper that we can groom for the future in the event that we get him on a permanent deaL"
The Bulawayo giants are hoping to capitalise on the relationship that they have established with Bantu Rovers who loaned them Obidiah Tarumbwa, Teenage Hadebe and Nqobizitha Masuku on a season's deaL
"Highlanders wrote to us about Mutanga and we told them the conditions and we're waiting for their response. The ball is in Highlanders' court," said Wilbert Sibanda, Bantu Rovers' general manager.
Sources within Bosso said Chirava incensed the Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu when he refused to share food with the rest of the players on their way back from Victoria Falls where they had gone for a team bonding exercise last week.
"Libero (Chirava) is no longer training with us. Actually he was told to look for another club last week because of the tantrums he threw when we were at Halfway Hotel on our way back home. We were put in groups of about five to six so that we could share food but he refused and that really didn't go well with the coaches," said the source.
Chirava, whose contract with Chicken Inn was not renewed at the end of last season, had been seen as suitable cover for Ariel Sibanda and Njabulo Nyoni.
The stout goalie had fallen down the pecking order at the Gamecocks with Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas preferring Elvis Chipezeze ahead of Chirava. The fastfood outlets sponsored club also brought on board Pride Zendera from Swaziland which further pushed Chirava down the ladder.
With the transfer-window closing on March 31, Chirava has four weeks to find a new home.
Mafii was diplomatic in his response on why the club fired Chirava.
"We're in the hunt for a third young goalkeeper who will push the seasoned duo of Sibanda and NyonL Chirava is no longer with us because we realised that he didn't understand the club's modus operandi. We thought of going our separate ways after noticing that we were going in different directions," Mafu said.
Quizzed on why he was taking Mutanga instead of promoting a goalkeeper from their junior ranks, the Bosso coach said: "By a younger player I don't mean a token junior who won't add value to the squad. I need someone who will compete for a first team place, someone who I will be able to give five or so starts. I believe that Mutanga is a young goalkeeper that we can groom for the future in the event that we get him on a permanent deaL"
The Bulawayo giants are hoping to capitalise on the relationship that they have established with Bantu Rovers who loaned them Obidiah Tarumbwa, Teenage Hadebe and Nqobizitha Masuku on a season's deaL
"Highlanders wrote to us about Mutanga and we told them the conditions and we're waiting for their response. The ball is in Highlanders' court," said Wilbert Sibanda, Bantu Rovers' general manager.
Source - chronicle
