CHICKEN INN captain Danny “Deco” Phiri has turned down an offer to join Bulawayo giants Highlanders, Southern Eye Sport can exclusively reveal.
FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
The mid-season transfer window closes tomorrow.
Highlanders, however, yesterday signed little-known former relegated Tripple B utility player Webster Chingodza, who has been training with the club for the past two weeks, while Tapiwa Dephistara has received his clearance and is available for his debut against How Mine this weekend.
Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube yesterday confirmed that Bosso had written to them requesting the player and the Bulawayo giants were given the clearance to talk to Phiri, who has since refused to cross the floor.
“Highlanders wrote to us requesting Deco, but he has refused to join them. We have actually asked Highlanders to talk to him and hear what he has to say, but they are yet to come back to us. As it stands, Deco is still at Chicken Inn and is still our player,” Ncube said yesterday.
However, Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede yesterday said he was not aware of any goings-on concerning Phiri, but confirmed that they had entered into a deal with Chingodza, who has previously played for Mwana Africa, Shooting Stars, Kiglon and Tripple B.
“I don’t know anything about Deco, but we have just signed former Tripple B player Webster Chingodza who has been training with us for the past two weeks and yesterday (Monday) he passed his medicals,” Gumede said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Phiri has been on Highlanders’ radar since the beginning of the year and in February, Chicken Inn put a $50 000 tag on the Warriors midfielder, an indication that they were not willing to part with the player who has also attracted some South African clubs. Last month Phiri went for trials with South African National First Division side FC Cape Town and later Absa Premier Soccer League side Polokwane City.
His mobile phone was not reachable yesterday.
A source yesterday told Southern Eye Sport a Highlanders senior official — who has been part of the players’ negotiating panel — said they were still talking to Phiri and if he agreed, the buck would stop with Chicken Inn, who still have a running contract with the player.
Bosso, who are also reportedly eyeing former skipper Gilbert Banda, Zephania Ngodzo and How Mine’s Brighton Dube, could have signed Chingodza to ease their right-back headache.
After the goalless draw with Bantu Rovers on Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium, Highlanders head coach Kelvin Kaindu said Bosso would be adding two more players to the squad, who are set to be unveiled next week.
Bosso has since grabbed Dephistara from Chiredzi.
Chingodza’s former coach at Tripple B, Peter Manoti, yesterday said the he was a good player who could be tried on any position in defence and midfield.
“He is a utility player who can play as a right-back or as a defensive midfielder, but at Tripple B I used him as an attacking midfielder. He is a good player I would recommend any club to go for,” he said.
