Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS are keen on retaining most of their players whose contracts expire next week as well as the Bantu Rovers’ on loan trio of Obidiah Tarumbwa, Nqobizitha Masuku and Teenage Hadebe. At least six senior players’ contracts are running out on December 31 and these include exciting midfielder Valentine Ndaba, goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, his deputy Njabulo Nyoni, defenders Felix Chindungwe, Erick Mudzingwa, Webster Chingodza and Mthulisi Maphosa.
Bosso skipper Chindungwe, Sibanda, Ndaba and Mudzingwa were pivotal in Bosso’s renaissance towards the end of the season, winning the Easycall Cup and grabbing a sixth place finish in the league after an indifferent start that saw them languishing among the bottom six for the better part of the campaign.
Injuries restricted Chingodza and Maphosa to the terraces for most of the season and this could cost them new contracts. Highlanders’ chairman Peter Dube yesterday said the club was keen on retaining some of the players and negotiations are presently underway.
He said they were also in constant communication with Bantu Rovers over a possible loan extension for Tarumbwa, Masuku and Hadebe.
“We want to retain some of the players and that process is underway. There’re some players that only the technical team will have to decide whether we retain them or not. We’re not sitting on our laurels and we’re working round the clock to get the players. We’re hoping to conclude most of the deals once the office opens in January. As for Bantu Rovers’ players on loan with us, we’re in touch with their club,” Dube said.
Since joining Bosso at the beginning of the season, Tarumbwa, Masuku and Hadebe have formed the nucleus of the Bulawayo giants’ squad, with Tarumbwa forming one of the most lethal partnerships in the league with Knox Mutizwa. Mutizwa won the 2015 Golden Boot award after scoring 14 goals in 18 starts and attributed his form to Tarumbwa’s proficiency.
Masuku and Hadebe’s performances saw them becoming regulars in the national Under-23s and represented the country at the September African Games held in Congo Brazzaville.
The duo is part of the Warriors’ provisional squad preparing for the African Nations Championship (Chan) set for Rwanda from January 16 to February 7.
Chicken Inn, FC Platinum and How Mine are also said to be interested in Tarumbwa, Masuku and Hadebe.
Bantu Rovers’ general manager Wilbert Sibanda said they’re giving Highlanders first preference to negotiate for the three players.
“I will be lying if I say the players at Highlanders haven’t attracted interest from other local clubs. We wrote to Highlanders asking them to state their position with regards to the players in question. We will hear what they’ve to say and if we agree on anything, the players will stay there,” said Sibanda.
News that Highlanders are keen on maintaining their squad is likely to be received well by their followers, who were worried that the present squad players might look for new homes for next season.