Ngezi Platinum outfox DeMbare, Manica in Chirinda race
PREMIERSHIP champions, Ngezi Platinum have won the race to sign 27-yearold Warriors striker, Obriel Chirinda from Bulawayo Chiefs ahead of last season’s title rivals Manica Diamonds and Dynamos.
Dynamos had in December tried to secure Chirinda as a free agent on the basis that Bulawayo Chiefs had breached his contract, which was due to expire end of this year.
However, Bulawayo Chiefs successfully defended their territory and retained Chirinda to complete his final year.
This allowed Ngezi Platinum to use its financial muscle and snatch Chirinda as part of their plans to strengthen the squad for the 2024 campaign, which will also include a maiden CAF Champions League adventure.
Apart from Chirinda, Ngezi Platinum also secured the services of Moses Demera who was at ZPC Kariba last season.
Chirinda, who was last season’s Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up, scored 12 goals, missing out on the Golden Boot gong by one goal.
He was a star attraction even halfway through the year, with as many clubs expressing their interest in his services.
Yesterday, Ngezi Platinum took to social media to reveal the latest developments.
“Ngezi Platinum Stars is pleased to announce the signing of former Bulawayo Chiefs forward, Obriel Chirinda,” read the statement on X.
The other one read:
“Ngezi Platinum Stars is pleased to announce the signing of former ZPC Kariba forward, Moses Demera . . . ”
Following the big deal, Bulawayo Chiefs’ media liaison officer Allen Mpofu told Zimpapers Sports yesterday afternoon that the club wished Chirinda all the best.
“We are excited to announce that Obriel Chirinda has been sold to Ngezi Platinum Stars on a permanent move. We want to thank Obriel for his outstanding contribution as a player at Bulawayo Chiefs FC. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours and thank him for his dedication and hard work on the field. Good luck, Obriel,” said Mpofu.
Both Ngezi Platinum Stars and Bulawayo Chiefs were not at liberty to reveal how much Chirinda signed for.
Bulawayo Chiefs said the striker was now a Ngezi Platinum player and that meant all inquiries about him have to be directed to his new paymasters.
Although the cash details remain sketchy, sources privy told Zimpapers Sports that Chirinda’s net value on the agreement was between US$ 20,000 and US$ 25,000.
Earlier in the off-season break, Dynamos were reported to have tried to entice Chirinda with a US$ 8,000 offer while Manica Diamonds offered US$10 000.
All seems to be going according to plan for the Zimbabwean champions with their squad preparations nearing completion, according to their acting chairman Silence Gavi.
He spoke to Zimpapers Sports during the PSL induction workshop held at the weekend.
“When we won the championship, we used mainly our junior players, we needed to organise our team. That’s what we are working on, we are introducing a few experienced players so that they can guide our junior players. I would say we are 75 percent (done with preparations) with players and also maybe with the player-coach.
“Africa starts in August, our ears are on the ground hoping that local developments will see us use one of our local stadiums so we are looking for stadia outside, but we hope that by August something will have happened,” said Gavi.
In addition to the latest signings, Madamburo had already signed former FC Platinum and Azam midfielder Never Tigere, combative Richard Hachiro, who was with Chicken Inn, and Talent Chamboko who left Manica Diamonds. Ngezi Platinum Stars are set to retain most of their players including veteran Qadr Amini who was crowned 2023 Soccer Star of the Year, last season’s Golden Boot winner Takunda Benhura, Leslie Kashtigu, Tinotenda Murasiranwa, Delic Murimba, Claude Mapoka, Bruno Mtigo, Farai Madhanaga and goalkeeper Nelson Chadya among others.
ALL is set for the inaugural Jadel Football Academy international 8v8 Under12 football tournament to be staged at Belgravia Sports Club in Harare tomorrow.
Clubs from Australia, England, and Jadel Academy’s China and Zimbabwe branches as well as Ali Sundowns will battle it out for honours at the contest.
A host of scouts from across Europe are expected to grace the fiesta with the impressive players in line to secure football scholarships abroad.
Organiser of the event, Walter Musanhu, who is also the founder of Jadel Academy, arrived in the country from his base in China early this week ahead of the junior football jamboree.
The former Motor Action player said all was set for the tournament.
“We are expecting nothing but fireworks. Everything is now in place and we are looking forward to an explosive showdown on Saturday (tomorrow),” said Musanhu.
“Players from China, England, and Australia are all in good spirits. They are super excited ahead of this tournament.
“They are happy being in Zimbabwe and today (yesterday) they were busy doing photo shoots.
“The atmosphere is just good and we are looking forward to a really good
ZIMBABWE will take on England in their final game of the 2024 ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup cricket tournament needing victory to secure a Top 10 finish.
Defeat by nine wickets with 36.3 overs to spare left Zimbabwe bottom of the overall 12-team league table with zero points and a net run rate of -4.016, which cannot be turned positive in tomorrow’s match.
However, two points from the match against England might just help Zimbabwe improve on their current 12th position.
Zimbabwe also finished 12th in the previous World Cup stage in the West Indies.
With England second from bottom in tournament.
“There will be a lot of scouts at the tournament. We are looking forward to a top-notch competition and hopefully, some of these boys will earn scholarships abroad.
“This is also our small way of taking these children out of the streets where the drug and substance abuse men-ace is rampant.
“I would like to thank all stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to see to it that this tournament comes together.”
Jadel Academy Zimbabwe representative, Primrose Serima whose Under-12 players recently went for two tournaments and a cultural exchange programme in China, said the tournament will eventually develop into an annual fiesta.
“I am very delighted to have been given this opportunity to host this tournament in Harare. Our players are pleased as well and they are ready to showcase themselves in this competition,” she said.
“Our players have gained a lot of experience over the years and recently they did well in two different tournaments played in China.
“We hope that they will do well in the upcoming tournament and possibly earn scholarships as there will be a lot of scouts available at this contest.
“We will also use this tournament to engage in cultural exchange programmes with the visiting teams.”
Group 2, Zimbabwe would need a huge victory for the two sides to swap positions on the final Group 6 league table.
For Prosper Utseya’s team to win big against England, they would their outof-sorts batsmen to come out firing while the bowlers will be expected to reproduce their form of the first round as they were overrun by South Africa on Wednesday.
Ronak Patel is Zimbabwe’s leading run scorer with 80 while the tournament’s leading batsman, Musheer Khan of India has 325 runs from four matches.
In bowling, the leading wicket-takers for Zimbabwe are Ryan Simbi and Newman Nyamhuri, who both have six victims to date.