Rahman Gumbo
Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn have signed the former Monomotapa midfield duo of Darryl Nyandoro and Chris Samakweri on two-year deals. The two players, who were on the books of TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), signed their deals on Saturday after a two-week trial stint, according to a source.
The midfielders will replace some of the Gamecocks’ players that are set to leave for the South African Premiership during the mid-season transfer window next month.
“Nyandoro and Samakweri are now Chicken Inn players. As you know, Chicken Inn doesn’t do one-year deals. They seem to have fitted well into the coach’s plans,” said the source.
The attacking duo of Mitchelle Katsvairo and Edmore Chirambadare is reportedly heading to Kaizer Chiefs, while midfielders Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Danny Phiri have drawn interest from Golden Arrows. Defender Lawrence Mhlanga, goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze and right-back Passmore Bernard are reportedly on their way to South African National First Division side AmaZulu where they’ll reunite with their former coach Joey Antipas.
Chicken Inn coach Rahman Gumbo confirmed that Nyandoro (28) and Samakweri (31) are training with his club, but said they will know their fate before the mid-season transfer window opens on July 1.
“They (Nyandoro and Samakweri) aren’t the only players that have been training with us; there are about five guys that we’re assessing as we want to bolster our squad. It will not be fair to comment on the two guys because we’re giving everyone a chance to prove their worth. Remember there are guys that will be leaving soon for greener pastures and we’ve to make replacements. A decision will be made by the time the mid-season transfer window opens,” said Gumbo.
Chicken Inn secretary-general Tawengwa Hara allayed fears that they may face complications in signing Nyandoro and Samakweri, who failed to produce clearance letters from TP Mazembe to Dynamos last month after making the grade at DeMbare.
“If the coach recommends that we sign them, we will do so. The players you’re asking about are free agents and we know how to get reverse international clearance certificates. Through the transfer matching system, we can verify if the players are free agents or not. We will just have to engage the national mother body to get us the reverse ITC in the event that the players impress our coach,” said Hara.
Meanwhile, How Mine look set to lose striker Charles Sibanda to Black Leopards of South Africa where he has been attending trials. Sibanda missed How Mine’s 0-2 loss to Highlanders on Sunday, with his coach Kelvin Kaindu hinting that the striker might have made the grade at Leopards.
“Sibanda was attending trials in South Africa and is likely to sign there,” said Kaindu in his post-match interview.