DeMbare, Patinum on collision course over Cliff Sekete

Sport
By Brian NkiwaneZIMBABWE’S two representatives in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League, Dynamos and FC Platinum have been busy on the transfer market for the past two weeks beefing up their squads ahead of the December 15 registration deadline.

But the two are set for a collision course since both clubs are targeting the same players, Standardsport has learnt. There has been thick blood between the two clubs after deep-pocketed FC Platinum last season snatched speedy winger Benjamin Marere and defender Khumbulani Banda from the Glamour Boys.

Officials from both clubs have since confirmed to Standardsport that they have been busy for the past two weeks on the transfer market but were not in a position to reveal the names of the players they had targeted for fear of counter action from other clubs.

The Platinum miners are said to be chasing the signatures of Dynamos number one shot stopper Washington Arubi, defender George Magariro whose contract with DeMbare is set to expire on December 31, midfielder Timire Mavura and speed merchant Martin Vengesayi.

FC Platinum are also after the services of five players from Gunners that include Soccer Star of the Year finalist Cliff Sekete, Leonard Fiyado, Quadr Amini, Michelle Katsvairo, Ismael Lawe, Highlanders’ Gilbert Banda, Motor Action’s Allan Gahadzikwa and Hardlife Muvindi from Masvingo United.  Banda, Luis Matawu (Bosso) and Welcome Ndiweni (Masvingo) featured for FC Platinum yesterday when they beat Hwange  1-0 at Mandava with Ndiweni scoring the solitary goal.

 

Also on the line-up wasRowen Nenzou from Shabanie, Sadiki and former Bosso hitman Mkhokheli Dube who had a stint in America.The move is set to cause a stir as the Harare giants, DeMbare are also eyeing the services of players from Gunners.

Arubi said he is only going to talk about his next move after the expiry of his contract at DeMbare on December 31.Speaking to Standardsport on Thursday, FC Platinum official Phillimon Muvengwa confirmed that they  had a huge number of  new players who came for trials.

“We had an overwhelming number of players who came for trials with some of them coming from Malawi and Zambia,” Muvengwa said. DeMbare chairman Keni Mubaiwa said they have been preparing for the December 15 deadline.

“We have done most of our homework but we cannot reveal the names of the players now as other clubs wait for us to make a move and then make a counter bid,” Mubaiwa said.

Marere might make a dramatic comeback to the Glamour Boys while FC Platinum gunslinger Donald Ngoma is also linked to DeMbare. DeMbare are also understood to be after the signatures of Sekete and goalkeeper George Chigova.

The Harare giants are also targeting Blue Ribbon playmaker Daniel Kamunenga. Also on coach Callisto Pasuwa’s wish list is Shooting Star’s Charles Mutero and Conrad Whitby who failed to settle down at Motor Action after an impressive first-half season at Kiglon.