
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
WITH just exactly a week left for the country’s first Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) first transfer window set to officially open, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clubs have been busy making lists and checking them twice as they prepare for the forthcoming 2024 season.
The months of January, February and March are set to be packed out, as a legion of top-flight sides seek to battle their unsteady form or myriad injury crises.
Over the past weeks, it has been reported that Ngezi Platinum Stars, Dynamos, Chicken Inn, FC Platinum and Simba Bhora have already made advances to their targeted players showing a will to break the bank all in pursuit of player signatures that they would want to bring to their camps.
While Chibuku Super Cup holders Dynamos are said to have made the biggest catch so far by luring last season’s red-hot stocky striker Obriel Chirinda, FC Platinum are said to have dribbled past Highlanders to attract combative Mbongeni “Mbola” Ndlovu.

Baltemar Brito
News that quite a number of players are set to make possible moves has become the order of the day, which is very normal at this time of year.
Here, Zimpapers Sports runs down the rumour mill about how our local elite football clubs are set to run down their business with regards to hiring, re-assigning, re-engaging and divorce with coaches.
Baltemar Brito
While Highlanders made it clear a couple of weeks ago that they will not be rehiring Portuguese gaffer Baltermar Brito as their head coach, it seems the gaffer’s relationship with Zimbabwean football might not end soon.
Mhondoro-based league champions Ngezi Platinum Stars are reportedly highly considering to appoint the Warriors coach as one of their technical team members.
With a debut African Champions League campaign beckoning Ngezi Platinum Stars are obviously hard pressed to leave no stone unturned in bolstering their team and it is no wonder that the club’s executive is said to be contemplating on getting Brito to be their senior coach with Takesure Chiragwi, who guided them to glory retaining his place as head coach.

Kelvin Kaindu
Kelvin Kaindu
Highlanders have already confirmed that they have reunited with their former Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu. We have it on good authority that for now, the God-fearing gaffer only made a verbal agreement to retrace his steps to the Bulawayo football giants. He has not put pen to paper.
While many are greatly looking forward to seeing Kaindu lead the Bosso dugout, Bosso have since dismissed that the gaffer is likely to be assisted by his trusted lieutenant Bekithemba Ndlovu with Tembo Chuma, who is also Kaindu’s favourite, assuming the role of goalkeepers coach.
Johannes “Tshisa” Ngodzo’s name is reportedly also in the mix and we have it on good authority that last Wednesday Highlanders leaders held a meeting to discuss the appointments of the team’s technical team.
Bongani Mafu, Try Ncube reinstated at Chipangano
Well-placed sources within the Hwange corridors have revealed that the duo of Bongani Mafu and Try Ncube were reinstated to their technical positions at the club just before the conclusion of the 2023 season.
The duo, which has been attending Caf A courses in Tanzania, was suspended just after mid-way through the season at a time when the club was going through a bad spell.
However, the coal miners managed to survive the dreaded chop under the guidance of club legend Nation “Nato” Dube.
At Hwange, Mafu is the technical manager, Dube is the head coach and Ncube holds the position of assistant coach.
Byo Chiefs, Nyumhwa divorce, will Thuts bounce back?
During the course of last week Bulawayo Chiefs secretary- general Dumisani Mantula announced that they will not be renewing the contract of their head coach Johanisi Nyumwa.
It was a confirmation that greatly fuelled the word that coach Thulani “Thuts” Sibanda, who has over the years enjoyed “a love and hate” relationship with Amakhosi Amahle, was set to bounce back.
Sibanda was relieved of his duties at Triangle United with four games to go before the conclusion of the season.
As local outfits keep fine tuning on their shopping wish lists and rightfully checking them time and again, only time will tell on who will be hired where. — @FungaiMuderere