The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS have parted ways with Manuel Obiang Esono Buale of Equatorial Guinea with the striker not even getting a chance to showcase his talent in front of the Bosso fans.
Buale, who was not eligible to play for Highlanders since he did not have a work permit, is believed to have been shown the door for disciplinary reasons after he recorded and circulated an outburst by now suspended goalkeepers coach Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu when players were refusing to train last month.
Highlanders chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube confirmed that they had terminated the contract of a player by mutual consent. Dube, however, refused to be drawn into revealing the name of the player concerned. Investigations carried out by Sunday News revealed that Buale is the one whose deal has been terminated.
“We have terminated by mutual consent the contract of one player but we will give further details as we go along.
“We are looking at other possibilities of creating space in our squad because the coach has indicated that there are certain players he should be able to offload if we can get the replacements when the opportunity avails itself,’’ said Dube.
Buale was signed at the beginning of the year together with the Democratic Republic of Congo duo of Tambwe Kalunga and Yves Ebabali.
Kalunga and Ebabali have failed to justify their presence at Highlanders leading many to question whether it was not wise to sign local youngsters than waste money on the two foreigners.
The burly striker, signed on a one-year contract could not play for Highlanders because his reverse international clearance took time to come from his home country. The club only applied for his work permit last month. Sources disclosed that not only had Bosso applied for his work permit but they had also sought to have his stay extended in the country as his days had expired.
Chances are high Highlanders will promote Bosso90 left back Mbongeni Ndlovu as cover for Warriors defender Honest Moyo. The 19-year-old, who is younger brother to former Highlanders captain Bekithemba, will start training with the first team this week and would be signed if he impresses head coach Erol Akbay who is expected to return from Netherlands on 23 July.
When Moyo was away at the Cosafa Castle Cup in South Africa, Highlanders were forced to use right footed defenders on the left side of their rearguard.
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