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Zimbabwe: Gunners Sign Karuru
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
23 July 2008
Posted to the web 23 July 2008
Lawrence Moyo
Harare
PREMIERSHIP newcomers Gunners on Monday staged a major coup on the local player transfer market when they signed Young Warriors inspirational skipper and midfielder, Ovidy Karuru.
Karuru, a 2007 Soccer Star of the Year finalist who had been linked with a move to foreign clubs and local champions Dynamos for much of this season, joined Gunners from Masvingo United on Monday on a permanent deal valued at a mere $100 trillion.
For a player who underwent trials at English Premiership side Newcastle in January, a transfer fee of $100 trillion is too little but Masvingo United faced the prospects of watching him leave for free as his contract with the busmen was expiring in December.
Karuru, who is set to travel with the Warriors for this weekend's Cosafa assignment, will make his Gunners debut in a Premiership match against Motor Action next week.
Gunners, who have been struggling so far in the season, have gone on a massive recruitment drive during this month's transfer window in a bid to survive relegation in their debut Premiership campaign.
Former Shooting Stars and CAPS United defensive midfielder, Muchineripi Muneri has also joined Gunners from Devichem.
Also joining Gunners are Hwange striker Ronald Zimbudzana, Black Rhinos winger Trymore Chisango and Lameck Mukakiwa from Mwana Africa.
Muneri, who was on loan at Premiership side CAPS United, started training with his new teammates last week on Tuesday but had to wait longer for his move to be approved by the Premier Soccer League.
His arrival is aimed at freeing Ramson Zhuwawo - by far the most consistent player for Gunners so far this season - into an attacking role.
Zhuwawo, formerly of Harare United, Eiffel Wildcats and Dynamos, had been restricted to a defensive role owing to a lack of such players in the Gunners squad although he still managed to score a goal in each of the big games against CAPS United, Highlanders and Dynamos.
Zhuwawo is Gunners' second highest scorer with four goals after grabbing the equaliser in a disappointing 2-2 draw with fellow newcomers Underhill at Gwanzura on Saturday.
Gunners are also hunting for a goalkeeper to compete with Moses Nelson and Lovemore Makwavarara as part of efforts to strengthen every department.
Former Shooting Stars and CAPS United assistant coach Darlington Dodo has already joined as deputy to George Madira while former Warriors, Shabanie Mine and Dynamos midfielder Francis Chandida is also part of the technical team.
Chandida is still training and is available for selection as a player and came in as a second half substitute against Underhill.
Gunners are 12th on the 16-team league championship with 16 points from 15 matches, which is just three points above the bottom-placed team.
The Harare side, arguably the best dressed team in the league, gained promotion from the Northern Region Division One before losing a game but the first half of the season has made them realise that it's a different ball game altogether in the Premiership.
Club chairman, Cuthbert Chitima, confirmed yesterday that they have set their technical team targets in their bid to stay up and the player recruitment drive is meant to leave the coaches with little excuses.
He also revealed that they were resigned to losing defender Norman Togara who has been missing for a while now.
"We are very happy that we managed to secure the services of Ovidy together with other players, Muchineripi Muneri, Ronald Zimbudzana, Trymore Chisango and Lameck Mukakiwa.
"The relegation battle is going to be very tough because if you look at the league table you will realise that very few teams are safe from the chop. So you have a few teams fighting for the title and the rest fighting to survive.
"Every match will, thus, be very difficult and we need to have a very strong squad to be able to compete in all the 14 tough matches remaining in the second half of the season.
"So we have set ourselves targets so that we are at least guaranteed of safety before the final weekend and after the end of the recruitment, I think we will be having enough material to achieve the targets," said Chitima.
Gunners' cause was somewhat boosted by the return of former Warriors fringe player, Rowan Nenzou, who had reportedly gone to South Africa.
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He marked his return with a goal in the 1-1 draw with Kiglon at Chibuku last week and also played against Underhill.
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