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Ishemunyoro Chingwere in CAPE TOWN, South Africa
SOUTH African Moneybags Mamelodi Sundowns have agreed terms with Zimbabwe international footballer Kudakwashe Mahachi in the first big move for the Warriors here on duty for the African Nations Championships.
The nature of the deal is that Sundowns will loan him to Zimbabwe champions, Dynamos, for the remainder of the South African Premiership season and then take him back, in July, when they have sorted out their foreign quota.

The Glamour Boys have been eyeing Mahachi as one of their prime targets to help them in their Champions League campaign this season.
There has been a rush for the signature of the youthful Chicken Inn star, who is reported to be out of contract, since he turned on a good show in a friendly against Gabon in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Mahachi has been on the Sundowns radar for sometime now and the South African club could also make it a double deal with Highlanders midfielder, Peter “Rio” Moyo, reported to be their choice to take over from Teko Modise whose influence has waned.

It’s likely that giant goalkeeper George Chigova and his Dynamos counterpart Partson Jaure, who is the Warriors’ skipper on this tour of duty, could also seal moves to Super Diski clubs before the end of this tournament.

Mahachi — the 2013 Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up — spent time on trials at Sundowns in November last year, but appeared to have failed to make the grade.

But while reports surfaced that the club was dragging its feet, it has since emerged that their coach Pitso Mosimane needed more time to make up his mind.

All that, it seems, changed on Tuesday with Mosimane and his technical team making the decision to make Mahachi their latest signing from Zimbabwe.

The 20-year-old star might have struggled to make an impression during his trial period, but in a competitive match in the colours of the Warriors against Gabon on Tuesday, he turned on an eye-catching show that must have sealed his move to Super Diski.

Sundowns acting general manager, Singh Yagesh, was dispatched to the Warriors camping base here in Cape Town, the Nelson Mandela Garden Court Hotel, for the initial proceedings in the securing of the player.

So determined was Singh that he came armed with a three-year contract, which he showed the 20-year-old, only to be rebuffed as Mahachi promised to put pen to paper after the CHAN tournament.

The Herald arrived back at the team hotel shortly after Singh had left, but Mahachi confirmed the contract offer and so did head of delegation Nigel Munyati.

“He came with a contract which he showed me but, after getting advice from my manager, I told him we can only sign after the tournament,” said Mahachi.

“My manager feels that the tournament can actually see me receiving even better offers so we will see how it goes, but, generally I am happy with the contract he brought and if nothing changes I will definitely sign after CHAN.”

Sources within the team told The Herald that Sundowns had committed to pay US$100 000 to price away the talented attacker from Southern Region Division One outfit Bantu Rovers who own his signature.

If the deal goes through, as is now widely expected, Mahachi will link up with fellow Zimbabwe internationals Khama Billiat, Cuthbert Malajila and ageless midfielder Esrom Nyandoro at the Brazilians.

Sundowns communications and marketing officer Joe Latakgomo said he was expecting a deal anytime soon after all the parties involved agreed terms with the South Africans now working on modalities to loan him to Zimbabwean champions Dynamos.

“An agreement was reached a few days back with both the player and his club and we had gone to look at the possibility of loaning him to Dynamos.

“So Singh’s visit was generally to finalise things that have already been agreed upon and we are expecting to announce a deal anytime from now,” Latakgomo said.

Sundowns might also swoop on Moyo and long-time target, Zimbabwe youth international, Walter Musona, who is currently on trial at the Pretoria club.

Musona is expected to fly out to Zambia, with the Sundowns team, today for training camp.
In June Sundowns offered to sign Musona for their developmental side but Aces Youth Academy turned them down as they felt the player was better of playing top-flight football at Motor Action.

“The club has showed interest in the player so he is on trial there and will actually be flying out tomorrow (today) with them for a training camp in Zambia,” revealed Aces director Munyati.

Meanwhile, the Warriors yesterday played a practice match against local top-flight league side Ajax Cape Town at Inkamva and crashed to a 0-3 loss.

Gorowa rang changes to the team that dispatched Gabon on Tuesday as he sought to give everybody a run before the team’s Group B opener against Morocco on Sunday here at Athlone.

Dynamos midfielder Masimba Mambare, who had been struggling with a knee injury, also got a run and looked in good shape.
But the numerous changes badly affected the team and it struggled in the practice match.