HOW Mine coach Luke Masomere says they are searching for junior players to fill up the developmental slots as per requirements by the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) in preparation for the top-flight competition expected to start in March.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER
PSL clubs will register 25 senior and five junior players.
Southern Eye Sport spoke to Masomere soon after the team’s training session at How Mine Stadium on Monday afternoon.
“I want players who will come and play in the league,” he said.
“I don’t want to just take five players so that we can fill up the slots. Besides the league matches, we have cup competitions we will participate in, so we need players who will be competitive.”
How Mine have been busy on the market this year as they captured former Dynamos midfielders Devon Chafa, Tawanda Muparati, Tapuwa Kumbuyani from Caps United, 2014 soccer star of the yar runner-up Limited Chikafa from ZPC Kariba and Benjamin Marere from FC Platinum.
The Metallon Gold-sponsored side look strong as they have signed former Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya and attacking midfielder Charles Sibanda while roping in Moses Gutu from Buffaloes and Nefitara Ndale from Masvingo United.
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The new players have joined the club on two-year deals.
“I am happy because I assembled the squad myself,” Masomere said.
“No-one recruited the players. I did it so I am happy. My 2015 target is to surpass what we achieved last year.
“Everything is going well at training and the players are impressive. I am looking forward to the new season. We are not promising that we will win any pieces of silverware. You can’t say you are beefing up a team when you are bringing in eight players, it is a completely new team.”
However, conspicuous by his absence at Monday’s training session was new signing Sibanda who Masomere said was due to report yesterday as he had personal problems to attend to.
Masomere thanked the sponsors for their continued support.
How Mine chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo said: “When we joined the league we finished on position seven and then eight last year. We are hoping for an improvement this season. It will be a good to finish in the top four. We have noted our strengths and weaknesses in the past two seasons.
“If you want to compete with the top teams, you have to be consistent. We started off well last season going 10 games unbeaten, but we went through a rough patch. It is important to keep the team happy. It motivates them.”
Present at the training session was former Warriors goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura who was reported to have left the club.
“We have submitted a list of three goalkeepers — Nonjabulo Dube, Donovan Benard and Munyaradzi Diya,” Nkomo said.
“Mazarura is not on the list, but he is training with us.”
Meanwhile, Nkomo revealed that they were eyeing Bantu Rovers defender Teenage Hadebe.
“We are negotiating with Bantu Rovers for the services of Teenage Hadebe,” he said.
“The negotiations are at an advanced stage. We are just waiting to sign. Check with me tomorrow (today) by end of day there could be something.”
However, Bantu Rovers general manager Wilbert Sibanda said despite How Mine’s interest in the defender, they were still deciding if Hadebe would join the team.
The 19-year-old left-footed defender proved to be a reliable central defender for Bantu Rovers although the team was relegated at the end of the season.
Provisional Squad Nonjabulo Dube, Donovan Benard, Munyaradzi Diya Gilbert Banda, James Chitereki, Nelson Tachi, Nyasha Mukumbi, Moses Gutu, Morris Kadzola, Tapiwa Khumbuyani, Menard Mupera, Devon Chafa, Wonder Sithole, Timothy January, Louis Matawu, Tawanda Muparati, Fungai Chirinda, Heritein Masuku, Thembani Masuku, Charles Sibanda, Godfrey Nguwodzawo, Nefitara Ndale, Limited Chikafa, Kuda Musharu, Benjamin Marere
