The Sunday News
Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS’ new signing Tapiwa Dephistara has been given the nod by his former team Chiredzi FC and he might be available for Bosso’s next home match against Triangle at Hartsfield Stadium on Wednesday. Dephistara was unveiled as the Bulawayo giants’ player last month in what was seen as a dream move from the Lowveld-based side. However, the Premier Soccer League secretariat cited irregularities in his clearance and declined registering him as a Highlanders player.
PSL advised Highlanders to seek clearance from Chiredzi FC chairman Charles Muchatukwa as his previous papers had been signed by the fired secretary, George Dhliwayo.
Muchatukwa on Friday confirmed to Sunday News Sport that he had signed the clearance for the attacking midfielder.
There had been leadership squabbles at the club with former coach Moses Chunga and Muchatukwa seeking control of the club with the matter ending up in the courts.
“Yes we have cleared the player and we will be forwarding it to the PSL for the completion of his move,” said Muchatukwa.
He said Highlanders had made payment for the player but refused to divulge the amount involved.
“We received some funds from Highlanders but that is a confidential issue and I cannot talk about it,” he said.
Highlanders’ chief executive officer, Ndumiso Gumede confirmed all was in order as far as Dephistara was concerned and that they expected Chiredzi to have forwarded the clearance to the PSL.
Dephistara penned a two-year deal with Bosso during the mid-season transfer window. At the Bulawayo club, he reunites with his former teammate at Gunners, Valentine Ndaba who signed up at the start of the season.
Dephistara had expressed frustration at not being able to turn out for Bosso due to the clearance issues adding he was ready to repay the club for the confidence they had shown in him.
“I am a Highlanders player and it’s an honour to play for them. I can’t wait to repay them for having confidence in me. Obviously I am disappointed not to have featured in the last two games because of paperwork but I have been assured that the club is doing its best to get the clearance. I have been told that I was cleared by the wrong person but hopefully the right person will be around to clear me on time for selection for Saturday’s game against Dynamos,” Dephistara said recently.
Other players who joined Highlanders last month include veteran striker Njabulo Ncube, Kudzanai Machazane, Gift Saunyama, Pasca Manhanga and Webster Chingozha.
