BULAWAYO Chiefs are listening to offers for striker Obriel Chirinda with Ngezi Platinum and Dynamos the front runners to get his signature.
Chiefs are said to have several offers for Chirinda on their table with indications they are willing to let go the player for a good fee. A highly placed source said there is little chance Chirinda will be at Chiefs this season as Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum are determined to get the player’s signature.
“The club has decided to sell instead of losing him as a free agent at the end of the year. His contract expires on 31 December. It would be good business for the club to sell him now. More-so given he is on top of his game,” said the source.
The striker scored 12 goals last season and was the second runner-up in the Golden Boot race, one goal shy of eventual winner Takunda Benhura of Ngezi Platinum Stars who scored 13. This was despite the fact that Chirinda played fewer games due to injuries and missed some games due to national team duty.
He was also among the Soccer Star of the Year finalists and finished as second runner-up. At some point, Chirinda was a goalkeeper while playing for the juniors but because of his height disadvantage, his development coaches encouraged him to play infield.
As a primary school pupil at Mahlathini in Cowdray Park, Chirinda played for a local team before moving to Highlanders’ Under-13s in 2007 where he linked up with present Bosso player Godfrey Makaruse, Chicken Inn’s central defender Itai Mabhunu and goalkeeper Wandile Ndlovu. Chirinda also played for EM Sport Academy where he trained under Field “Stokee” Mlambo from Under-15s up to Division Three. He has also played for Chicken Inn in the topflight. — @innocentskizoe.
