CHICKEN Inn skipper and Dynamos target Danny “Deco” Phiri has yet another chance to prove his worth as he is set to leave for South Africa next week for trials with Absa Premier Soccer League side Free State Stars.
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Deco, contracted to Chicken Inn until 2017, is wanted by Dynamos, but has ruled out a local move.
A source close to the player yesterday confirmed Deco would be leaving for South Africa next week.
“Deco is leaving next week for trials at Free State Stars. I am not sure whether he was invited for the trials, but what I am aware of is he is definitely going to South Africa next week,” the source said.
It will not be the first time that Phiri will be going for trials in South Africa.
He had trial stints with Polokwane City and lower division side FC Cape Town, but has been unlucky with making a break to South Africa.
Chicken Inn officials yesterday could neither confirm nor deny that Deco was headed for Free State Stars, only saying they had heard it as rumour.
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“It’s just a rumour, I am not aware of that,” club secretary Tavengwa Hara said.
Phiri, who yesterday committed himself to the GameCocks, dispelling speculation that he was on the move, said he was not aware of the Free Sate Stars move.
“I am a Chicken Inn player. I extended my stay at the club for another three years. I don’t know where the reports that I am moving or that I don’t have a contract are coming from.
“About going to South Africa, I have not heard anything, I will find out, but I am not aware. All I know is I am a Chicken Inn player,” Phiri said.
He is one of the players that impressed some South African clubs during the Orange African Nations Championship tournament last year, which saw other Warriors players Tendai Ndoro, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Milton Ncube and Erick Chipeta sign with Mpumalanga Black Aces, Mamelodi Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town and Chippa United respectively.
Peter “Rio” Moyo’s move to Mpumalanga hit a brickwall, but he has since joined National First Division side Witbank Spurs, where he plays with fellow former Highlanders striker Cleopas “Balotelli” Dube.
Other Zimbabwean players who moved to South Africa last year were Dynamos’ Partson Jaure, now at University of Pretoria and Highlanders’ Khumbulani Banda who joined Maritzburg United.
