Jacob Muzokomba, Danny Phiri on DeMbare’s shopping list

Sport
Buffaloes forward Jacob Muzokomba has been linked with a move to Dynamos as the Harare giants also intensify their chase of Chicken Inn midfielder Danny Phiri.

Buffaloes forward Jacob Muzokomba has been linked with a move to Dynamos as the Harare giants also intensify their chase of Chicken Inn midfielder Danny Phiri. BY MICHAEL MADYIRA

Scheduled to begin pre-season on January 19, the Harare giants have so far been in serious mode on the transfer market after acquiring the services of defenders Obey Mwerahari, Godknows Murwira as well as former CAPS United forwards Kelvin Bulaji and Dominic Chungwa.

The interest of Muzokomba could spell hell for Simba Sithole and Farai Mupasiri who however enjoy the sympathy of assistant coach Tonderayi Ndiraya.

While Roderick Mutuma looks certain to have his contract renewed, either or both Anesu Gondo and Washington Pakamisa might be loaned out.

Brightening chances of Muzokomba coming to Harare is the fact that he was once coached by David “Yogi” Mandigora at Lancashire Steel.

If Phiri signs, Devon Chafa would be sacrificed to leave room in a midfield that already has hardman Stephen Alimenda.

Dynamos manager Richard Chihoro however dispelled the rumours over Muzokomba and Phiri but insisted they are not yet done shopping.

“Those players are not on our radar. They have never come on our minds,” said Chihoro.

“The signing of players is an ongoing process because we want to make sure that when we start pre-season training on January 19, we would have finalised our squad. We still need a defender, three midfielders, and a striker. We will be graduating one of our junior goalkeepers to the senior team.”

A source close to the developments however confirmed that DeMbare are seriously pursuing Muzokomba and Phiri.

“Remember Yogi once worked with Muzokomba at Lancashire Steel and knows the boy very well. He really wants him. The player has already been contacted and it seems things are shaping up. The manager of Danny Phiri has already been raised up. He is in South Africa and has agreed that the player joins Dynamos,” said the source.”

Muzokomba, a former Highlanders player managed seven goals last season, while he netted 10 in 2013.

In 2010, the 27-year-old was once on the radar of South African giants Orlando Pirates while turning out for Mbabane Swallows in Sawaziland, but Pirates later rested their interest. Admired by Charles Mhlauri, Muzokomba was handed a national team cap in an international friendly match against Mozambique in August 2005.

Defensive midfielder Phiri was a sensation for the Warriors at the African Nation Championships tournament in South Africa early last year. He snubbed Highlanders mid-last season.

DeMbare might however be on a collision course with ZPC Kariba after they signed Mwerahari who still has a running contract with the Kariba side.

ZPC did not bless the defender’s move and coach Saul Chaminuka has urged DeMbare to follow correct channels when buying players “We hope Dynamos will do things the right way because Mwerahari’s contract with ZPC Kariba ends on December 31 2015. I was not aware he was talking to Dynamos and was just surprised to hear that they have signed him. We do not stand in the way of players but we just have to do things above board and avoid clashes,” said Chaminuka.