Injuries wreak havoc on Muparati

Sport
TAWANDA Muparati could be on his way out at How Mine without kicking a ball after he joined the gold miners from Dynamos at the beginning of the season.
Tawanda-Muparati
Tawanda Muparati

TAWANDA Muparati could be on his way out at How Mine without kicking a ball after he joined the gold miners from Dynamos at the beginning of the season.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

Knee and ankle injuries have kept the 2013 Soccer Star of the Year on the sidelines and How Mine have considered showing him the door in the Zifa mid-season transfer window period.

How Mine vice-chairman Alpha Matumbura yesterday confirmed Muparati could be leaving the club.

“We have considered deregistering him (Muparati), but I am yet to meet with coach (Luke Masomere) who had travelled to Mutare with the team for the league game against Buffaloes. It will be up to the coach. He will have the final say as he has been assessing him,” Matumbura said.

Muparati (31) signed a two-year contract with the gold miners who also brought a number of other stars that include Charles Sibanda, goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Devon Chafa, Benjamin Marere and veteran striker Limited Chikafa, but the midfielder has had no joy after How Mine had given him a lifeline with DeMbare not renewing his contract.

However, coach Masomere was singing a different song yesterday, saying Muparati was recovering well and had started training.

Masomere said he was looking at bringing in a striker and a defender to beef up his squad in the transfer window.

With Sibanda out for some months, Masomere said he was hoping to add another striker, while defender James Chitereki, who was also injured against Hwange at Luveve two weeks back, also ruled out for some time.

“(Tawanda) Muparati, Fungai Chirinda and Louis Matawu have recovered well. Muparati will start training with the senior team soon. I am looking at beefing up the team with a striker and a defender with Charles Sibanda and (James) Chitereki out, I might need to make some replacements, but I will know by the end of the week after meeting with the team’s sponsors,” Masomere said.

Log leaders Chicken Inn are likely to lose their chief striker Edmore Chirambadare, who left the country on Monday to South Africa for trials with Bidvest Wits.

Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube confirmed the 23-year-old striker had left for South Africa and without mentioning any names said quite a number of clubs had shown interest in the player in the Absa Premier Soccer League.

Highlanders’ striker Thomas Chideu is being assessed by Ajax Cape Town with Bosso bringing in his former teammate at Prince Edward High School Obert “Adebayor” Tafira.

Defender Teenage Hadebe has also reportedly been invited to Ajax Cape Town.

Hwange striker Evans Rusike is also trying his luck at Maritzburg United with FC Platinum’s Wisdom Mutasa and Walter Musona also being assessed by Slovakia side FK Senica.

Donald Ngoma has left for Young Africans in Tanzania, Obrey Chirwa is seeking a move and Aaron Katebe is at Polokwane City on trials.

Tsholotsho FC, battling to survive the chop, have already registered veteran striker Joel Luphahla, who scored the only goal as the Lizwe Sweswe-coached side beat ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga on Saturday.

Also coming out of retirement and making a return with Tsholotsho are Siza Khoza and Danisa Phiri, who was recently cleared from match-fixing allegations.