PREMIER Soccer League (PSL) side Black Rhinos’ quest to survive the dreaded chop received a double whammy after fellow premiership army side Chapungu recalled the speedy winger Phillip Marufu.
By Brian Nkiwane
Marufu was instrumental in Black Rhinos’ survival last season after joining the club in the mid-season window last year.
Marufu, who was on top of his game when Black Rhinos recorded one of their famous wins in Kadoma two weeks ago over How Mine, could have played his last match for Chipembere before moving to Gweru to start on a new lease of life with John Nyikadzino’s Chapungu.
A Black Rhinos club official confirmed that the team was on the verge of losing the hard-running winger who is set to return to his parent club.
“As you know, Phillip is an Airforce of Zimbabwe employee. He will be going back to assist his parent club as they seem to be in a similar position with us. They have written to us that they now need their player. I think you saw how instrumental he was in the win over How Mine last weekend in Kadoma. But there is nothing we can do. I think it was his last match which he capped with a fine performance. We will miss his services,” the club official said.
Marufu joined Black Rhinos last year during the mid-season transfer window and helped them survive the chop, finishing just above the line.
He will be rejoining Chapungu, the club where he made his name in the past few years before he was lured to the capital to join Harare Giants Dynamos before moving to the Democratic republic of Congo league where he turned out for FC Lupopo.
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He will not see action this week as he is on suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.
“I think the win against How Mine was Phillip’s last match for us. He will be on suspension when the league resumes next week so it makes it difficult for him to feature for us again before making a move to Chapungu.”
The official added that they would not be opening their cheque book this year as they look forward to bringing back on-loan striker to How Mine Blessing Sande as well as promoting a few junior players from their developmental side.
“We will be bringing back Sande from loan as well as promoting a few juniors from our junior structures and others that we had loaned to our sister clubs in Division One so that they get enough game time.”
He also heaped praise on Douglas Mbewe who has proved to have been the missing link in the Rhinos midfield. Mbewe joined Black Rhinos at the beginning of the season but has been failing to make the grade in Rhinos first team.
Mbewe made his debut against FC Platinum where they managed to hold their fancied opponents to a 1-all draw. Since then he has claimed the anchorman’s role playing week in week out, capping the appearances with fine performances.
