CAPS United forward Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo is set to remain at the struggling Harare giants until January next year despite sealing his move to Tunisian side Club Sportif Sfaxien on Wednesday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The 25-year-old signed a two and a half year deal with the eight-time Tunisian champions, who will kickstart their 2017/2018 Ligue 1 campaign today aiming to end their five-year wait for the league title.
“Club Sportif Sfaxien has found common ground with the Zimbabwe midfielder, CAPS Utd’s Ronald Chitiyo. The player will sign a two and a half year contract with the CSS [Club Sportif Sfaxien] and will join his new club from next January,” a Tunisian media outlet, Mosaiquefm reported last week.
Chitiyo will only be able to contribute to his team’s title charge next January as Club Sportif Sfaxien are still serving a transfer ban imposed by world football governing body Fifa seven months ago.
CAPS United CEO Cuthbert Chitima, who is said to be out of the country, was recently quoted by out sister paper NewsDay saying Chitiyo’s deal was as good as done, with the player only awaiting his medical which was done last week.
It is, however, not clear whether Chitiyo will remain at CAPS United until he officially joins the Tunisian club in January.
Club Sportif Sfaxien were early this year banned from making any transfers until January 2018 as punishment for the improper transfer of another player.
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Zimbabwe international Matthew Rusike was on the verge of signing for the club but due to Club Sportif Sfaxien’s transfer embargo, he ended up joining another Tunisian side Club Africain instead.
Chitiyo reportedly caught Club Sportif Sfaxien’s attention during CAPS United’s CAF Champions League Group B match against Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya at the Stade Taieb Mhiri in Sfax two months ago.
The skillful midfielder scored arguably one of the best goals in the tournament, albeit for a losing cause as the Zimbabwean champions were overpowered 4-2.
However, Chitiyo’s individual performances were good enough to catch the eye of the Club Sportif Sfaxien officials, who immediately made enquiries about the Zimbabwean player.
Should he remain at CAPS United until January, it would be a massive boost for the Harare giants who are currently third from bottom with a measly 18 points from 15 matches.
CAPS have already lost forward Abbas Amidu, who has recently been linked with several North African teams, while defender Ronald Pfumbidzai is reportedly on the verge of joining South African side Bloemfontein Celtic.
