HARARE giants Caps United have moved swiftly to tie down utility player Hardlife Zvirekwi to a three-year deal as they get ready for the forthcoming season.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Zvirekwi had attracted interest from several Premier Soccer League clubs including Harare City, who have captured two of the best attacking midfielders in the country – Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo from Dynamos and one of the Soccer Star of the Year finalists Raphael Manuvire from ZPC Kariba.
The Caps United star, whose contract was due to expire on December 31, was, however, enticed by the cash-rich Green Machine to pen a three-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2019.
Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe confirmed they had tied down Zvirekwi to a new deal and did not hide his pleasure in having the industrious midfielder in their ranks.
The Caps United gaffer said it was only natural that a player of Zvirekwi’s quality would attract interest from several clubs, but said his heart is with Caps United.
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“Naturally, you would expect a player of Zvirekwi’s calibre to attract interest from other clubs,” Chitembwe said. “He is an important player for us like all our other players. We are happy to have him on board. He signed a three-year deal,” he added.
Zvirekwi has been named captain of the Warriors taking over from injured Danny Phiri.
Other Caps United players also in the Chan squad are defender Stephen Makatuka and midfielder Joel Ngodzo. Reports had also suggested Caps United were after the signature of Chicken Inn midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu, but Chitembwe said they were done with signings and were expecting to begin their pre-season preparations.
“I don’t think we will be signing more players.”
The Green Machine have signed Edmore “Zikeeper” Sibanda from Division One side Gunners. Left-back Ronald Pfumbidzai, 2014 Soccer Star of the Year Dennis Dauda and former Triangle midfielder Cabby Kamhapa are the other new signings.
The Green Machine, whose executive committee held a strategic meeting where they met supporters’ representatives and members of the Press on Saturday to find ways of improving the club’s operations in their bid to turn professional, are expected to start pre-season preparations on January 19.