The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
FORMER Highlanders striker Nqobile Mpala has penned a one-year contract with Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side, Tsholotsho FC after returning home.
Mpala retraced his steps from Botswana late last month and decided to stay at home and cancel his contract with the neighbouring country’s Police XI.
The bustling forward has been training with Tsholotsho but has not been available for selection due to the incomplete registration process.
Mpala said he came back into the country to attend to some family problems in late March and realised it was time to come back home.
“It was not really a planned move but when I came back I just decided it was time to play at home. There were a few issues I wasn’t happy with that side hence my move. My contract with Police XI was coming to an end in June but we mutually agreed to cancel it. With the window period towards closing I realised it would be difficult finding a team but I am glad I have agreed terms with Tsholotsho,” he said.
Mpala said he was looking forward to making a positive impact at Tsholotsho and assist the side do well. The striker said the club has received his international reverse clearance and his registration could be finalised tomorrow (Monday) and he could be available for selection when Tsholotsho face his former paymasters, Highlanders on Wednesday in Dulivhadzimu.
Tsholotsho chairman Mlamuli Phiri said they were confident Mpala would be of value during his side’s 2017 campaign. He said his technical department initially had doubts about bringing Mpala on board but after a few training sessions the player convinced them he can be handy in the team’s attack.
“He is an experienced player and I think we will need that experience when it comes to certain matches. We believe he will deliver because he has shown us he still has got what made him famous,” said Phiri.
Mpala left Highlanders for University of Pretoria in 2009 before making a return to the country in 2012 and played for Caps United. The following year he moved to How Mine and after one season left for BMC in Botswana which changed hands a situation that forced him to move to Police XI.
Tsholotsho have avoided relegation by a whisker for the past two seasons they have been in the topflight. In 2015 they survived by two points ending on position 12 on the log and last year the decision to relegate two teams aided them as they finished 14th but on the same number of points with Mutare City with only goal difference separating the two sides.
The Beitbridge-based side this year added veterans to their squad that include former Highlanders captain Felix Chindungwe, Thomas Chimenya and Canaan Nkomo as they sought to better their fortunes in the PSL.
