TAPIWA Dephistara’s move to Highlanders has hit a snag as Chiredzi FC are adamant that the 21-year-old striker is still their player.
FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) basement side claims he was not properly cleared by some executive members of the Lowveld club which has been riddled by infighting, led by fired coach-cum-director Moses Chunga.
Dephistara signed a two-year contract with Highlanders and was unveiled at the Bulawayo giants’ clubhouse on July 22, but new Chiredzi FC head coach Gishon Ntini yesterday said as far as he was concerned, the young player belonged to Chiredzi and he was expecting him at training.
Highlanders fans have been wondering why Dephistara, who is in Bulawayo, has not featured for Bosso since coming to the fore. The returning Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube and former Triangle’s Pascal Manhanga took part in the 0-0 draw against How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday after signing with the club on July 31, the mid-term transfer window deadline. Ntini yesterday said information at hand was that the clearance given to Dephistara by some members of the executive had been reversed and Highlanders last week had contacted Chiredzi making frantic efforts to have the player cleared for registration with the PSL.
“It is a simple matter. Dephistara was given a clearance by the wrong people and that clearance was reversed. The only person who can sign the clearance is the chairman (Charles) Muchatukwa. This is a community club; it does not belong to individuals,” Ntini said.
“How can two people (names given) clear 17 players? “It’s not only Dephistara. The complication has to do with the number of slots that we are given by the PSL. We can give him (Dephistara) his clearance. If we owe him money, he can be given his money.
“It’s not money that we want from Highlanders. As coach I cannot stand in his way if he wants to go to Highlanders.
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“What we want is justice. As it stands, Dephistara is 100% Chiredzi FC until proper registration is done. I know he is in Bulawayo, but I am expecting him to at training. You can talk to Muchatukwa and he will tell you exactly what I have just said.”
The media-shy Muchatukwa and Dephistara’s mobile phones were not reachable for the better part of yesterday.
Highlanders’ chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede yesterday said as far as he was concerned, they had registered Dephistara with the PSL, but the club vice-chairman Mgcini Mpofu, who is based in Harare, had been told by the league to wait before they could use the player.
“He has a problem with his former club Chiredzi. I don’t know what the problem is. He has been registered with the PSL and we have paid our monies but the thing is our vice-chairman was told that we should hold on to the use of the player until that problem is sorted,” Gumede said.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said Highlanders know exactly what they have to do regarding Dephistara.
“Highlanders must follow instructions. They have been told what to do. They have to get clearance from Muchatukwa, who is a PSL governor. If they get that clearance, the player will be registered and they will get his licence,” Ndebele said.
Meanwhile, Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu on Sunday said he was happy with his mid-season acquisitions.
“I am happy with what we have. The two of them (Ncube and Pascal) played today (Sunday).
“They have not been active, but they played well. We have the players and I hope they will add some value to the team,” Kaindu said after the How Mine draw.
Bosso have brought in Ncube, Manhanga, Webster Chingodza, Kudzanayi Machazane and King Nadolo in mid-season.
