Herentals unveil new players
THEY may have gone about their transfer business quietly but ambitious Premiership side Herentals yesterday ended months of speculation about their plans when they unveiled their acquisitions and a new kit for the 2022 season.
Bulawayo Chiefs, who have hired a Portuguese coach, have dominated the transfer business, with their team virtually undergoing a complete make-over.
Dynamos and Highlanders were also busy recruiting players.
The resurgent giants have been fuelled by funds from energy giants Sakunda as they look to revitalise their bid for the title.
DeMbare last won the championship in 2014, while Bosso have gone on a 16-year drought.
The hyper-activity from Chiefs, Dynamos and Highlanders literally pushed into the shed fellow Premiership sides such as champions FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum Stars, Manica Diamonds, Chicken Inn, CAPS United and Herentals.
But the Students yesterday demonstrated their intention to put up a strong fight in the championship.
They resume their Premiership campaign with a home game against early pacesetters Manica Diamonds at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
The same venue is where the team paraded their nine additions to the squad and new kit.
It was also the same venue where their Northern Region Division One outfit were hosting Paul “Popopo’’ Chimalizeni’s Banket United.
But the focus yesterday was on the players coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva believes will bolster his side as they aim for a top-four finish.
Herentals are in their third season in the top-flight and have raided clubs such as CAPS United, Yadah and Dynamos for experience.
They brought in tough defender God
frey Mukambi from Yadah, Davison Marowa and Edgar Mhungu (Black Rhinos), veteran striker John Zhuwawu from CAPS United and midfielder Ali Malisero, who was at Dynamos.
The Students have also kept their policy of developing their own talent by promoting the quartet of goalkeeper Kudakwashe Mukura, Tanaka Dhlakama, Admire Pasina and William Gatsi from their development squad.
Pasina, a Lower Sixth student at Herentals School, has had Mutiwekuziva purring, with the coach confident the 17-year-old centre-back will be one to watch this season.
“These are very important additions to the squad because they add depth and at the same
time balance to the squad as we fight for the Premier League title,” he said.
“Though we are still a young team that still want to learn a lot in the Premiership, the addition of such players like Godfrey Mukambi, John Zhuwawu and Ali Maliselo will bring in experience and confidence to other players that we have been having.
“We have some youngsters that we have promoted into the senior team and having these experienced players on board will help us to be competitive.”
He also said Herentals had lost experienced players such as Wilmore Chimbetu, who joined FC Platinum, and this pushed them to raid big clubs such as Dynamos and CAPS.
“These will help us develop better and we will fight as good as we can,’’ Mutiwekuziva said. The Herentals coach said although it is would be every team’s wish to win the championship, they would be content with a top-four finish.
The league might be tightly contested if the business that has been done by Bulawayo Chiefs, DeMbare, Bosso and Ngezi Platinum Stars is anything to go by.
However, the team has not disbanded the core of the side that did duty in the Chibuku Super Cup, which includes the father and son combination of Innocent and Tino Benza, and Young Warriors international Calum English-Brown.