The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
HIGHLANDERS coach Erol Akbay says they are ready to turn new signing Roderick Mutuma into a mean goal scoring machine if he toes the line at Bosso.
Akbay said if Mutuma co-operates, then he has the potential to score 20 to 25 goals by the end of the season.
The Dutch coach said he would not accept any indiscipline from his players and he will not hesitate to open the door for any footballer who conducts himself in an unbecoming manner.
Some Highlanders supporters had raised concern over Mutuma’s alleged lack of discipline that saw him being let go by Dynamos.
“All players have to behave in an acceptable manner otherwise they go. Mutuma is a good striker and as a technical department and considering our style of play, I can see him scoring between 20 and 25 goals this season,” said Akbay.
Mutuma had been scheduled to make his debut in the black and white colours at today’s postponed ZNA Charity Shield semi-final against FC Platinum which has been moved to 12 March.
Mutuma has a litany of disciplinary issues that include scuffles with teammates and opponents alike.
Highlanders goalkeepers coach, Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu said they are not worried about Mutuma’s previous behaviour as he was now a Bosso player who has to act according to the club’s rules.
“We don’t care about what happened at his previous clubs. Actually, that is not our concern. We have our own rules and what is of concern to us is that he is now a Highlanders player and he has to play by our rules,” said Zulu.
Akbay revealed they had completed a swap deal with Bantu Rovers that saw midfielder Denzel Khumalo move to Bosso while striker McCarthy Dube went the other away.
Khumalo, who was part of the Bosso side that travelled to South Africa recently for a training camp, impressed Akbay who decided to take him on board while releasing Dube to Bantu.
Akbay said they are still assessing two strikers, Manuel Esono Obiang Buale from Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Tambwe Kalunga.
He said if the two impress they could be the last additions to the Bosso 2017 squad. Highlanders has retained the bulk of last year’s players with Mutuma and Khumalo being the only new signings so far while the club has released Felix Chindungwe, Njabulo Nyoni and Julius Dauda.
Club treasurer Donald Ndebele said Mutuma’s contract was similar to that of other players and had no clauses relating to indiscipline.
“He (Mutuma) signed a standard contract just like any other player. There is nothing different about what he agreed to. We have a code of conduct at Highlanders, which every player has to abide by,” he said.
