ZIMBABWE international left-back Onismor Bhasera has been offered the chance to play in a top-flight league after he was invited for trials with Turkish Super League side Elazigspor.
Tawanda Tafirenyika
The 26-year-old Bhasera, who plays for English League Two side Plymouth Argyle, flew to England last night where an Elazigspor coach was set to pick him up as the club prepares for the 2013-2014 season in Netherlands.
His agent Ralph Nkomo revealed yesterday the former Kaizer Chiefs full-back would train with the Turkish club from July 10, as the club wants to have a closer look at the player with the view of signing him.
Nkomo said another English championship side was also interested in Bhasera. He said in England, the Zimbabwean international full-back would not need to go for trials as he has been well known since his transfer from Kaizer Chiefs in 2010.
“The club will start its pre-season training on 10 July in the Netherlands and they will pick Bhasera up in England. The club is looking for a left-back and want to have a look at him since they don’t know how he plays. It’s unlike in England where he is well known. He was the best player for Plymouth Argyle in the past season, but we are looking at what is best for the player,” Nkomo said.
He added that the Zimbabwean star — who is also comfortable playing on the left side of the midfield — did not return to Plymouth Argyle because they were not happy with the terms offered by the English side. Nkomo said nothing changed as far as the terms were concerned since the club came out of administration and that everything they were looking at now should be in the best interests of the player. “We can’t rule out his return to Plymouth Argyle, but it will depend on what offers are on the table because he is a very good player and a number of clubs are interested in him,” Nkomo added.
While Nkomo said they were not happy with the terms for the player, the Plymouth Argyle manager John Sheridan claimed they had offered him a good deal.
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Sheridan has, however, stated that he would not chase the player although he acknowledged the value he added to the team. “I’ve got to be looking at bringing someone else in now,” Sheridan told BBC Radio Devon.
“I’m not going to chase a player around the world when there’s one on the doorstep who can do a job for us.”
“We’ve made him a very good offer. We like him, the fans like him and he’s done well for us. The problem is getting hold of him and finding his whereabouts.”
Bhasera who made 114 appearances for the Pilgrims since joining from Kaizer Chiefs in 2010, had shown great potential to play at the highest level in the English Premiership. But he has been presented with a chance to show that he can still play at the top level in Turkey.
Should Bhasera make a breakthrough, he will mix with some African stars at Elagizspor who include Guinea midfielder Pascal Feindouno, Senegal midfielder Tidiane Sane and Nigerian defender Chibuzor Okonkwo.
The Plymouth Argyle manager, though has wasted little time looking for a replacement left-back, with Canadian Martin John and Ryan Dickson both already on trial.
Meanwhile, former Dynamos striker Takesure Chinyama is set to join Bloemfontein Celtic from Orlando Pirates in a swop deal with forward Lennox Bacela.
The Zimbabwean international was one of players offloaded by the Bucs in a major clean-up exercise following a disappointing season.
Chinyama, dogged by injuries since joining from Zimbabwe champions Dynamos, started in just seven games for Pirates last season and scored three goals and it appears the Buccaneers are not happy with the return and are eager to find a fresh pair of legs ahead of the start of the forthcoming season.
