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Kuda Mahachi.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
KUDAKWASHE Mahachi sneaked into the country on Sunday afternoon from his 10-day trial stint with French giants AS Monaco before flying out last night to join his new South African team Mamelodi Sundowns.
Even though the French side are yet to state their position on whether they will have him on their books, Sundowns are confident that the Zimbabwe international will make the grade.

In fact the deal could be sealed as early as next week, according to the Absa Premiership champions’ spokesperson Kabello Mosito.
“They (AS Monaco) are yet to come back to us but all along they have been telling us that the boy has been impressive, so get back to me sometime next week we might be having something concrete,” said Mosito.

Mahachi said Monaco stars like Dmitar Berbatov and Falcao were very supportive and kept on encouraging him during his trial period.
“The guys there treated me like I was already part and parcel of the team, they never showed any signs of belittling me or making me feel it that I was on trials,” said Mahachi.

He said even the coach Leonardo Jardim didn’t treat him like a player on trials although the major problem was the language barrier.
“I don’t know a single word of French so I was relying more on the assistant coach who would translate for me what the head coach would have said but football is a universal language on its own,” said Mahachi.

The Zimbabwe international said while training facilities were more advanced in Europe, compared to those back home, the actual training fields were the same.
Asked on what the club said after his trial period, Mahachi said AS Monaco would communicate with his employers, Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I don’t talk to them directly but they will talk to my club,” he said.