FC Platinum have confirmed interest to rehire Kaizer Chiefs defender Lincoln Zvasiya after completing the signing of Gift Bello from Dynamos.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA AND EPHRAIM SHOKO
A six-month loan deal is on the table for Zvasiya as Bello sealed his move on Friday.
Zvasiya spent six months at the platinum miners’ side in 2011 before he moved to Chiefs who loaned him out to Greek Super League side OFI Crete last July.
With Chiefs having exhausted their foreign quota, Zvasiya’s handlers have been considering bringing the 22-year-old back home on a loan stint until space for foreign players is created in June.
FC Platinum have moved in to rival Dynamos who have also registered interest in the defender.
The Zvishavane side’s moves for Zvasiya have been largely inspired by an injury crisis that has hit their key centre backs. Captain Daniel Vheremu is nursing an ankle injury he sustained during a pre-season camp in Kariba and is expected back in the team after a month and a half.
Vheremu’s defensive partner Aaron Katebe will be on the sidelines for a month as well.
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The club’s spokesperson Chido Chizondo said the injuries have prompted interest in Bello and Zvasiya.
“We have opened talks with Kaizer Chiefs and chances are high that he [Zvasiya] will come to be with us until July,” said Chizondo. “The logic of him coming here for six months is because we are trying to address our injury concerns at central defence. Right now the player is in South Africa and I am sure we will finalise things as soon as possible.”
Chizondo could however not confirm the signing of Bello.
“We have contacted Bello and chances are 50-50 that we may sign him. We really want him and we will have a clear picture on Monday or Tuesday. Our negotiating power is on the basis that he is out of contract,” said Chizondo.
But highly-placed sources at FC Platinum confirmed Bello’s move, saying the defender would be part of the squad which will face cross town rivals Shabanie Mine in the CG Msipa Scholarship fundraising match at Mandava next weekend.
“Facts on the ground are that Bello is now an FC Platinum player. He will actually be part of the squad next weekend when we play Shabanie Mine in the charity shield,” said an FC Platinum official who requested anonymity.
FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa, who coached Bello at Kiglon before bringing him to Dynamos in 2011, is said to have used his huge influence on the player to lure him to the mineral-rich town. Bello participated in Dynamos’ 1-1 draw with Chapungu last Wednesday and the amount involved in his FC Platinum transfer could not be established at the time of going to print.
In a related issue, FC Platinum midfielder Ali Sadiki is on the radar of AmaZulu but can only start playing for the Durban side in July following the closure of the January mid-season transfer window on Friday.
“AmaZulu have contacted us and we will resume talks with them on Monday,” said Chizondo.
Sadiki’s elder brother Tapuwa Kapini is AmaZulu’s goalkeeper.
FC Platinum have so far signed Njabulo Ncube from Highlanders, Tarisai Rukanda from Shabanie Mine, Stephen Sibanda from Buffaloes, Walter Musona and Wisdom Mutasa from Aces Youth Academy and other youngsters that were promoted from the club’s junior ranks.
