'Knox Mutizwa is not leaving Highlanders FC'

HIGHLANDERS prolific striker Knox Mutizwa has extended his stay at the club by a year, a move that will see the Bulawayo giants benefit financially when the sought after player ultimately makes a move.

Mutizwa put pen to paper on a new deal at the Highlanders offices last Friday following protracted talks between the Bosso officials and his representative Gibson Mahachi.



His two-year contract was due to expire at the end of this year, amid fears that Bosso would not gain much save for development fees in the event that the player signed for another club.

Highlanders' chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede confirmed the development pointing out that the club was looking to prepare the striker for a good future outside Highlanders.

"He has extended his stay by one year, we are looking at nurturing him to a stage where he won't be an embarrassment when he leaves us. We want him to be a finished product, we welcome the development. He has his eyes set on higher greener pastures but for him to get there he needs to get some mentoring which we are providing so that he can realise his real potential,'' said Gumede.

Mahachi met Gumede and club treasurer Donald Ndebele on Friday.

While the first gathering could not yield any results, the second one in the afternoon saw the deal being sealed.

Mutizwa said the idea was to extend his contract with his childhood club Highlanders so that the club could get financial benefit when he eventually signed any team, either locally or outside the country.

FC Platinum are the Zimbabwean club with a better chance of landing his signature should the striker opt to stay in the country, an unlikely development as South African clubs Bidvest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic and SuperSport United are also chasing after the player.

"I have signed for one year so that my team gets something when I get sold,'' said Mutizwa.

In an interview with this publication soon after returning from the Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville in September, Mjomani, as Mutizwa is affectionately known by his teammates, made it clear that his next move will be determined by a team that was able to buy him a house. He disclosed that he was tired of lodging, something he had to endure since he was born.

Mahachi pointed out that it was only reasonable that Mutizwa extended his contract with Highlanders so that the club which groomed him benefits when he leaves.

"It is only fair that he signs a contract extension with Highlanders, naturally it is important that he continues at Highlanders, it is easy until we get a deal for him. We are working on something, it is in both parties' interest that we get him a club outside the country. Every club in the country is chasing after him, as his agent I have to advise him on what is best for him,'' said Mahachi.

He disclosed that that matters pertaining to his two year contract were ironed out hence the player's decision to pen a year's contract.

According to Mahachi, the striker might to go for trials outside the country before the end of the year.

"Issues to do with the existing contract have been sorted out. There are clubs in South Africa that are interested in having a look at him, we are trying to work on something for him in terms of trials before the end of the year, it all depends on the clubs that are interested,'' said Mahachi, who has been handling the player's issue since mid-year.

Mutizwa, a Highlanders junior product, broke into the first team in 2011 when Bosso were coached by Mkhuphali Masuku. Last season he was one of the players deemed excess to requirement, at the expiry of a three-year contract.

Bantu Rovers founding president Methembe Ndlovu was said to have been ready to pounce on the player. However, the intervention of then coach Kelvin Kaindu saw the striker being retained, and he subsequently signed a two-year deal.

Heading into this weekend's matches, the 22-year-old Mutizwa is the leading scorer with 14 goals to his name.

What has made his goal poaching skills noticed is the fact that Mutizwa missed the first nine matches of the season after getting burnt in a domestic dispute.

Last Wednesday, Mutizwa struck twice in Highlanders' 4-2 victory over Hwange at the Colliery Stadium, a win which lifted the faltering Bulawayo giants who at some stage were eleventh on the log to sixth spot.

Mutizwa also scored the solitary goal Bosso's 1-0 triumph over FC Platinum in Zvishavane last Sunday in the quarterfinals of the EasyCall Cup.