INJURED Highlanders midfielders Kudakwashe Mahachi and Peter “Rio” Moyo are leaving Zimbabwe next month for their South African clubs, making them available for this Sunday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) humdinger against Dynamos on Sunday if the team doctors okay them for the big game.
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Bosso chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede yesterday confirmed they had received official communication from Mamelodi Sundowns and Mpumalanga Black Aces concerning the two players, that they would not be leaving Highlanders anytime soon.
Gumede, however, said they were yet to receive any correspondence regarding Milton Ncube, who has signed a two-year contract with Ajax Cape Town.
“We have something official on Mahachi and Moyo. All the others are reported in the newspapers. Mamelodi Sundowns have indicated that they might want Mahachi, but the information is a bit mixed up and confusing,” he said.
“We had communication with Mike Ntombela (Sundowns director of football) when he was in America and what we know is that Mahachi will be going for trials in France after the World Cup. We have also seen some paperwork from Peter (Ndlovu, Sundowns team manager).
“I was with him this morning (yesterday) when he was going for his physiotherapy. As it stands the two are available and if they pass fitness tests they will play on Sunday. They are not leaving anytime soon. Maybe in July.”
Sundowns will start pre-season training on Monday and will spend some weeks before going to Polokwane and will tour an unnamed African country after visits to Ghana and Zimbabwe last year.
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Gumede said in Ncube’s case maybe discussions are being held with someone else, but nothing official had come through to Highlanders.
Ajax Cape Town communications officer Mark Meyer last week said they were expecting all players to regroup for pre-season camp next Monday, when he was probed on Ncube.
Other players who were reported to be leaving Highlanders are goalkeepers Munyaradzi Diya (Mpumalanga Black Aces) and Ariel Sibanda (Chippa United). Mpumalanga Black Aces have confirmed on their website that Moyo signed with AmaZayoni on May 30 and would assemble with the rest of the players before June 23.
The midfielder has been out injured since May 25 when Bosso beat Buffaloes 3-1 at Sakubva Stadium and coach Kelvin Kaindu said they will not be rushing him. Mahachi sustained a sheen injury on Sunday against Triangle at Gibbo.
Moyo has said he is ready for the challenge in South Africa.
“Fresh from putting pen to paper on his long-term transfer to Black Aces, Zimbabwean ace midfielder Peter Moyo says he cannot wait to play with his new teammates at AmaZayoni once the 2014 to 2015 Absa PSL season gets underway. The deal for the 26-year-old Moyo to move from Zimbabwean giants Highlanders FC was struck back on May 30. “Rio”, as he is affectionately called in his native country, will join up with his new AmaZayoni teammates shortly before June 23 when the team is expected to regroup for pre-season training,” the Black Aces website reads.
The Warriors midfielder said he was impressed by the Black Aces set up.
“Right from the first contact I had with Mpumalanga Black Aces, I was very happy. They’re a great club with a long history and fantastic plans. They have wonderful infrastructure and a lot of ambition. This is a new stage in my life and I can’t wait to play with my new club so I can show what I can do. I’m impatient to play alongside my new teammates — my Zimbabwean compatriots for sure — but also the others,” he said.
“My wish is to utilise their advice to help Black Aces achieve good results. I think the expectations from the fans will be even much higher for this upcoming season considering the team has just finished in the lucrative MTN8 in their first season back in the top flight.”
Moyo will join fellow countrymen Tendai Ndoro, Method Mwanjali and goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro. Mwanjali was on loan from Sundowns and has reverted to Chloorkop although Aces are working on a permanent transfer.
