Top Zimbabwean players are stranded ahead of today’s European and South African transfer deadline with forwards Knowledge Musona and Nyasha Mushekwi headlining the desperate hunt for clubs.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
The transfer window closes at midnight.
Today will be the busiest football day, especially in European leagues as clubs finalise their squads for the 2014/15 season. The busy activity could also trigger hasty signings which is now a risk for Musona and Mushekwi.
German Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim have made it clear that Musona is not in their plans and are seeking to loan him out elsewhere. Musona recently spurned another loan offer by Kaizer Chiefs, expressing interest to re-launch his European career.
He spent last season on loan at Naturena and Chiefs have not yet rested their interest in the 24-year-old.
“We will still pursue the matter going forward without pressure because there is a transfer window in January. The matter is not closed… If he feels that he wants to continue there [in Europe] that’s his right, but Musona is like a son to us and he will always be welcome at Chiefs,” Kaizer Chiefs manager Bobby Motaung was quoted as saying by Kickoff.com last week.
Now struggling to return to Europe, the Warriors talisman could be ruing decisions he made last year when he turned down moves by English Premier League side QPR and Dutch Eredivisie outfit NAC Breda.
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Musona’s handlers have been under fire from the striker’s followers for ill-advising the player to return to Africa from a lucrative league like the German Bundesliga.
Last week, it was reported that unnamed clubs in Austria and Netherlands were monitoring him with keen interest.
Hoffenheim had signed him on a five-year-deal with high hopes that he would develop into a top player who would afford them huge returns in the occasion of a big transfer.
Musona’s Warriors striking partner Mushekwi is also in a similar situation. The Mamelodi Sundowns forward injured his knee in February while turning out for Belgian Jupiler League side KV Oostende where he was on a season loan.
With almost 20 foreigners at Sundowns, they are already battling to accommodate the non-South Africans and are likely not going to register Mushekwi as they have already loaned out some of the players.
Mushekwi’s agent Ralph Nkomo admitted that the injury has made it difficult for Mushekwi to secure a club.
“We are waiting for him to be 100% fit and he is almost there,” said Nkomo. “Right now he is training and he can sprint without any problems. The plan is to take him back to Europe. We have three clubs in mind and Oostende are one of the options. We know time is running out and also know how to handle this situation. “Sundowns will also tell us what to do. A permanent transfer could be a bit late right now but a loan deal is the likeliest move.”
Another Warriors player, Lincoln Zvasiya’s future is also in doubt. He once trained with South African lower division side Royal Eagles who however opted against signing him. He still has a contract with Kaizer Chiefs who have however made it clear he is not in their plans.
After prominently featuring for Greek side OFI Crete where he was on a six-month loan spell last season, Zvasiya returned to Chiefs who snubbed him.
Zvasiya’s manager Gibson Mahachi said Chiefs hold the key to the player’s future.
“I understand he is training with All Stars in the first division. I am not sure where he will end up but he is a Kaizer Chiefs player and it is up to them to decide,” said Mahachi.
Also in the wilderness is Lionel Mutizwa whose whereabouts are known. The former CAPS United midfielder has been struggling to find a club and spent the whole of last season without kicking a ball after being offloaded by Sundowns following a loan spell at Pretoria University.
