Harare — FIRST it was in South Africa and then Botswana. Zimbabwean football players have opened up new bases in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A few, like former Chapungu defender Shingairai Chakona, are playing in Namibia.

Eight Zimbabwean players -- Chris Samakweri, Mtulisi Maphosa, Daniel Zokoto and Darryl Nyandoro -- are at TP Mazembe, the African club champions.

Ephraim Mazarura, Mtshumayeli Moyo, Phillip Marufu and Gomba are at FC Lupopo who, just like TP Mazembe, are a DRC team based in Lubumbashi.

At least these eight players made headlines when they switched to the DRC unlike the dozen or so Zimbabwean players who quietly slipped into Mozambique.

The latest, and by far the player with the biggest profile to join the Mozambique league, is 2008 Soccer Star of the Year Evans Chikwaikwai.

Former Njube Sundowns striker Chikwaikwai joined South African side BidVest Wits last year but failed to click and was last month loaned to Mozambique Premier league side Liga Muçulmana.

Muculmana is the same club that Edward Sadomba played for before ending up at Al-Hilal in Sudan.

Sadomba was also loaned by Wits, to Mulumana, just like Chikwaikwai.

Former Eastern Lions strikers Liberty Ndadzungira, Eusebio Manwere, former Kaizer Chiefs and Lengthens winger Kelvin Mushangazhike, Ngoni Makabe, Master Masitara, Patrick Tom and Alvin Ndunduma are some of the players who are now in Mozambique.

Ndunduma is at the moment back home.

Mushangazhike is at Machava Matola-based club Athletico Mauculmano along with former Harare United player Makabe while Tom, the former Sundowns bustling striker, is looking for a club.

But Ndadzungira and Manwere have been at Maputo giants Maxaquene since 2008.

Despite reservations about the standards of the domestic leagues in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Swaziland -- when compared to Zimbabwe -- the players have found the temptation of better fortunes too good to resist.

Ndadzungira told The Herald from his base in Maputo yesterday that his football fortunes have taken a turn for the better since he arrived there.

"Football standards here are still low as compared back home but there has been a lot of improvement," he said.

"I could say clubs based in Maputo have an edge above those based in Chimoio, Nampula or Beira. But all the clubs are basically improving."

Ndadzungira believes football was a better paying form of employment in Mozambique than back home.

Most of the top Maputo clubs have strong links with coaches and clubs in Portugal.

"Some of the clubs here have good coaches who came from Portugal or, if they are locals, have been to Portugal for courses," he said.

Maxaquene finished fifth last season, and have played Highlanders before in the African Champions League.

Amazulu also destroyed Maxaquene 7-4 on aggregate in the preliminary round of the Champions League in 2004 while army side Black Rhinos also dismissed the Mozambicans in the Caf Confederations Cup in 2003.

The Mozambican 14-team league begins on March 20 and then breaks after the first half games.

"The season is shorter here than in Zimbabwe because there are fewer teams.

"We are likely to break in June for the halfway mark and then resume after that.

"As we prepare for the new season, hope is high that our team will win the league title and play in the Champions League next year," he said.

Ndadzungira said he often follows Zimbabwe football through the Internet as there is little to no television coverage of the local games beyond the borders.

"We are on the internet most of the time trying to get an update of news about Zimbabwe soccer," he said.

"Maybe national team coaches are not aware of how we play here and often overlook many players based here.

"It's almost every player's wish to play for his country but there is nothing much we can do until we have been selected."

Manwere has featured for the Warriors before he moved to Mozambique from the now defunct Eastern Lions.