Top Swedish club captures City star

Sport
Swedish top-flight league club Djurgardens IF have announced the capture of Warriors and Harare City forward Tino Kadewere for a loan spell until October.

Swedish top-flight league club Djurgardens IF have announced the capture of Warriors and Harare City forward Tino Kadewere for a loan spell until October.

BY MICHAEL MADYIRA

Kadewere had successful trials at the Allsvenskan side last month before another audition at French League 2 side Sochaux, but opted to join the Swedes who have an option to extend his stay in Stockholm at the end of the current campaign.

The 19-year-old arrived in Sweden from France on Thursday and immediately started training with the first team before penning the short loan deal.

At Djurgardens, he joins compatriot striker Nyasha Mushekwi who is the Allsvenskan league’s third top goal-scorer with 11 goals in 18 matches. “When I left the team for France, I told the coach that I did not really want to go and I hoped that I would be back soon,” Kadewere told Djurgardens’ official website.

“I watched one of the club’s matches and I really liked the way the team plays. Everyone is friendly here and the club welcomed me warmly. I am very glad to be back and I am looking forward to contributing to the team’s success.”

Djurgardens are on second position in their campaign with just two points behind leaders IFK Goteborg. Although Kadewere joins the Swedes on loan, the club’s sporting director Bosse Andersson has expressed long term plans for the teenager.

He said Mushekwi’s presence would help Kadewere settle at the club.

“I see Tino as a long-term opportunity for this club. He impressed when he trained with us first time and it was very clear we wanted him. Now we have a chance to get to know him better during his loan time here and hopefully, have a long-term contract for him. He comes from Zimbabwe and the fact that we have Mush [Mushekwi] will make it easy for him,” Andersson said.

Kadewere was in his second season at Harare City after finishing high school at Prince Edward in 2013 before being snapped by then City coach Bigboy Mawiwi.

This Premier Soccer League season saw him relegating to the bench seasoned players like Francisco Zekumbawire, Honey Chimutimunzeve, Martin Vengesayi, Osborne Mukuradare and William Manondo.

This earned him a senior national team call-up and City coach Taurai Mangwiro is, however, not worried about finding his replacement.

“Tino has been very useful for the team with some very good shows,” Mangwiro said.

“We will definitely miss him. But his departure is an opportunity for others to fill in his shoes. It is good that he has found for himself a more professional set-up in Sweden and I am happy for him. I just hope he does well there and I do not doubt him in terms of ability.

“I also hope he will not be weighed down by fame in Europe. He should be able to handle challenges that come with fame and discipline is the key because we have seen most stars falling because of the new life overseas.” Kadewere was spotted by Djurgardens scouts while in action for the Warriors during a Chan qualifier match against the Comoros at Rufaro Stadium in June.

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