CAPS United head coach Mark Harrison says he will be making a decision on whether to sign former Highlanders player Joel “Josta” Ngodzo next week as he was still assessing the skillful midfielder.
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After being snubbed by Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu, who said Josta was not fit, the midfielder packed his bags to Harare where he has been training with another former Bosso midfielder Hillary Madzivanyika.
Harrison, who has given Ngodzo a chance to prove himself, yesterday said the former Highlanders and FC Platinum stocky midfielder’s fitness levels were not spot-on.
“As for Hillary (Madzivanyika) we have only had him for two days and it’s still early days. I am still looking at both players and we are working on Joel (Ngodzo)’s fitness levels. I will be making a decision on the two next week,” Harrison said.
Time could be running out for the two players as the Zifa transfer window period closes on March 25 and if they are not signed by the Green Machine, they will have just two weeks to look for new clubs.
In January, the Highlanders gaffer Mafu said he had given Ngodzo a chance because “he has unbelievable talent but he is seriously out of shape.”
The 25-year-old, whose contract at Bosso ended on December 31 last year, appeared to have gained a lot of weight coming from the break.
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At the peak of his career at Bosso after returning from injury, Ngodzo left the Bulawayo giants in 2011 to join FC Platinum together with his brother Zephaniah, Gilbert Banda, Brighton Dube and Louis Matawu.
But in 2013, after not getting much game time at the platinum miners, Ngodzo opted to return to Bulawayo to the club that nurtured his career.
However, on returning to Highlanders, he was reportedly put on a strict diet to lose weight by then Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu.
He did not play in a number of matches for the Bulawayo giants and only came in from the bench and featured extensively at the end of the season.
Ngodzo had a tumultuous season and was caught offside outside the pitch of play in a number of incidents that saw him being given a written warning at Highlanders and having a brush with law enforcement agents.
He was nabbed at Hartsfield Rugby Ground for driving without a licence after a Highlanders match which he was not part of, but was later released in October 2014.
