HARARE A player exodus has hit Harare giants Dynamos after four key players signed for ambitious Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) soccer champions FC Lupopo, dealing a huge blow to DeMbares African Champions League campaign next year. The four Dynamos players striker Cuthbert Malajila, midfielders Mtshumayeli Moyo, Carrington Gomba and goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura spent a week on trials with the DRC Premiership outfit and flew back home last Wednesday.
Moyo revealed that they had each signed one-year contracts with the club and were now awaiting payment of their signing on fees.
“The four of us passed the trials and we signed one year contracts each. We are now only waiting to be paid our signing on fees. We will be joining the club in January next year,” said the talented midfielder.
The quartets departure has thrown the DeMbare camp in turmoil and club chiefs were last week reportedly phoning around as they sought to find replacements for the seasoned players before the Confederation of African Football (CAF)s December 15 deadline for registering players who will take part in the Champions League.
Dynamos acting chairman Michael George confirmed the four players had signed for the DRC club and said they were now looking for replacements before the CAF deadline.
“I am told all the four players succeeded in their trials and now we have to work hard because we need replacements before the December 15 deadline for registering players for the Champions League. There is nothing we can do because you cannot stand in their way if they have passed the trials. The only option is to look for replacements and I am sure we will get the right players,” said George.
Malajila finished joint second top goal scorer in the league with Gunners marksman Norman Maroto with an incredible 19 league goals while CAPS Uniteds big striker Nyasha Mushekwi emerged top goalscorer after banging in 21 league goals.
Another DRC club TP Mazembe, who won this year’s African Champions League after beating Sudanese giants Al Hilal in the final have also snapped up four players from former Zimbabwe champions Monomotapa.
Skipper Mthulisi Maphosa, midfieders Chris Samakweri, Darrly Nyandoro and striker Daniel Zokoto are already on Mazembes books after they were signed last month following their impressive performance in their maiden African Champions League campaign in which they reached the group stage of the tournament.
Interestingly, Dynamos who were runners up in the Zimbabwean Premiership are likely to face Lupopo FC should the DRC champions win their preliminary round clash against Simba SC of Tanzania.
Zimbabwe champions Gunners will face little-known Mafunzo FC of Zanzibar in the preliminary round of the African Champions League.
Post published in: Football