Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zifa secretariat will today hold a Fifa Club Licensing workshop for league champions Chicken Inn to acquaint the Gamecocks with the CAF Champions League registration process.
Chicken Inn will face South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the preliminary round of the continental competition, with the first leg set for Bulawayo on the weekend of February 12-14 and the return leg on the February 26-28 weekend.
With the registration deadline for the continental competition closing on December 31, Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze, the association’s competitions’ manager Weston Mabande and the transfer matching system manager Timothy Mazhandu are expected to help the Gamecocks with the process.
“CAF competitions operate within the confines of club licensing and as an association, it’s our duty to make sure that our representatives at continental tournaments appreciate the tenets of club licensing. Issues to do with registration of players, adhering to professional conduct and how they’re expected to behave as a club will be addressed at this workshop, which will be facilitated by Zifa chief executive officer Mashingaidze and his secretariat team,” said Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela.
He said it was imperative for Chicken Inn to have a club licensing workshop since a fortnight ago the national association held a similar programme for Harare City, who will represent the country in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Chicken Inn are likely to hand Zifa their squad for the CAF competition today.
Lifa Ncube, the Gamecocks’ chairman, said they are working hard to get the players they want and were hopeful to conclude some deals today.
“We’re working round the clock to wrap up our signings. Our aim is to send our registration forms on Monday and if you get hold of me by then, I’ll let you know which players we would have signed. We had a strong squad and we’re making a few additions, maybe four or five players. We need a defender, someone to play on the right wing of the midfield and a striker,” said Ncube.
There were reports that Chicken Inn were targeting a number of Soccer Star of the Year finalists.
Players rumoured to be on coach Joey Antipas’ wish-list include Dynamos left-back Ocean Mushure as well as Caps United defender Stephen Makatuka.
Mushure’s absence from the national team camp last week further fuelled rumours that the defender was wrapping up a deal with the ambitious Bulawayo side.
Chicken Inn have been beaten to the signature of Triangle’s Hillary Bakacheza, who has reportedly sealed a move to FC Platinum.
The Gamecocks are believed to be interested in Bantu Rovers’ striker Obidiah Tarumbwa, who was on loan at Bulawayo giants Highlanders.
Tarumbwa was a vital cog in Highlanders’ campaign and it is not clear whether the Gamecocks will be able to snatch the player right under Bosso’s nose.
Bosso have been given first preference to re-sign Tarumbwa alongside Nqobizitha Masuku and Teenage Hadebe who were on loan from Bantu Rovers.
Masuku is rumoured to have already sealed another loan deal with FC Platinum.
Chicken Inn are also said to have included ZPC Kariba’s want-away striker Raphael Manuvire.