Tarumbwa resurfaces at Pretoria University

Sport
FORMER Highlanders striker Obadiah Tarumbwa is reported to have started training with University of Pretoria in South Africa’s Absa Premier Soccer League.

FORMER Highlanders striker Obadiah Tarumbwa is reported to have started training with University of Pretoria in the hope of finally breaking into South Africa’s  Absa Premier Soccer League.

VITALIS MOYO SPORTS REPORTER

University of Pretoria, affectionately known as AmaTuks, are desperately hunting for strikers after Thabo Mosadi became the only surviving forward from last season. Dumisani Ngwenya, Mame Niang, David Radebe, Thokozani Sekotlong and Diyo Sibisi will all be leaving.

AmaTuks have also been assessing Ethiopian Fikru Tefera and Sifiso Vilakazi. In 2012, Tarumbwa joined Cypriot Second Division side Ermis Aradippou after turning down an offer to play for home team Dynamos. The Harare giants were seeking Tarumbwa’s services after the club had sold Takesure Chinyama to South African side Orlando Pirates, but were turned down after failing to agree terms with the striker. The Bulawayo-born striker earlier this year signed a two-year deal with a Kenyan outfit Sofapaka.

Tarumbwa’s football career blossomed at Highlanders in 2006 when  the Bulawayo side won their last league title.  That year  saw him moving to join Cercle Brugge in Belgium where he made only six appearances before his contract was terminated in 2009.

During his unhappy stint at Cercle Brugge, Tarumbwa played alongside Vusa Nyoni and Honour Gombami, also plying their trade with the Belgian side before deciding to come back home to join Bantu Rovers.

The 27-year-old player thrives as a shadow striker and can also play on either flank.  He also plied his trade with Cyprus division one side Ermis Aradippou.

Tarumbwa scored two goals when he made one appearance in senior national team colours in 2007. The major highlight in his stint abroad was in Apop Kinyras where he joined the club as a free agent after being released by a Cypriot club in 2009, making  20 appearances and scoring just five goals in two seasons.