HARARE football giants Caps United are set to lose prolific striker and 2022 Castle Lager Soccer Star first runner-up and top scorer William Manondo, with reports suggesting Zambian clubs Zesco and Zanaco are jostling to secure his signature.
The Caps United forward had a brilliant season in which he scored 17 goals and provided 12 assists to help his club survive relegation.
This is despite having missed two opening games of the season as he was still without a club after leaving Harare City.
His overall contribution to the team earned him a place on the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar as the first runner to FC Platinum forward Walter Musona.
As is often the case with players who make it on the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar, there is already interest for the Caps United striker from Zambian clubs while on the local scene, Dynamos had been reported to be making moves to snap him up.
Sources, however, said yesterday the player’s handlers were weighing options for him to join either Zanaco or Zesco.
Although Caps United chief executive Charlie Jones was not at liberty to disclose the player’s next career station, informed sources maintained he was destined for Zambia.
The sources said the deal was close to be consummated and what was left was just to tie some loose ends.
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Should Manondo leave for Zambia, as is highly likely, it will create a big hole for the Green Machine as they prepare for the new campaign.
The former Harare City man contributed 50% of the 34 goals scored by the entire Caps United team, suggesting he was a pillar of the team.
Manondo still has one more year left on his contract, which runs out end of next year and that means Caps United will be one of the major beneficiaries of the deal which is likely to be a lucrative one considering the player’s stock.
This development is likely to help the financially constrained Caps United to get back into the market to seek a replacement.
Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe is understood to be planning to inject more energy into the squad as he seeks to challenge for honours next term following a disappointing campaign that ended with the team managing a lowly 11th position.
Their problems, though, were largely financial and should the club leadership manage to mobilise resources for the next season they could be a force once again.
