WARRIORS coach Ian Gorowa is fretting over the grim prospect of losing key players to South African clubs ahead of the African Nations Championships (Chan) which starts in less than three weeks’ time.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
Gorowa has nine days left before CAF’s registration deadline for the final 23-men squad that will do duty at the biennial tournament which is limited to home-based players. The tournament will be staged in South Africa.
So far six players could possibly sign for South African teams after undergoing trials.
Highlanders midfielder Peter Moyo and Triangle striker Misheck Mburayi are the latest players trying out in South African and are yet to report for camp.
Gorowa has already lost Golden Boot winner Tendai Ndoro who is now in the books of South Africa’s Mpumalanga Black Aces.
With the tournament beginning on January 11 and ending on February 1 when the South African mid-season transfer window would be open, a player would have to withdraw from the Warriors if signed between now and that period because he would no longer be considered as local-based.
“I have some players who are going to South Africa for trials and I do not know whether they will be back or not,” said Gorowa.
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“The 27 players I have in camp are not really a huge number. We are required to register 23 players but anything can happen in camp. You talk of injuries or any other misfortune.”
Warriors’ manager Shariff Mussa said they were not aware of the clubs assessing Moyo and Mburayi.
“Peter Moyo is in touch with the coach and said he will join camp by Monday [tomorrow] hopefully. No news on Misheck and we do not know which clubs they are training with,” said Mussa.
In-form Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya might also find himself ineligible for the tournament as another South African side Golden Arrows want to have another look at him soon after the New Year’s holiday.
Diya recently had a trial stint at the club. Arrows are also yet to make public their decision on defender Erick Chipeta who attended trials together with Diya.
Two weeks ago winger-cum-striker Charles Sibanda trained with SuperSport United and the South Africans are still to give feedback.
While Mamelodi Sundowns have closed the door on winger Kudakwashe Mahachi, SuperSport United have not yet rested their interests.
So desperate is Mahachi to sign a contract with a foreign club that he is taking his time to pen a deal with Dynamos or Highlanders in the hope that he could go to South Africa.
Gorowa’s fears are further compounded by the fact that he has already finalised his 23 men squad which he is yet to announce and losing a single player would force him to alter his squad.
“I already know my 23 men but I cannot tell a player that he is in,” he said.
The Warriors are in Group B where there are pooled with Burkina Faso, Morocco and Uganda.
