Sinokubonga Nkala
Innocent Kurira , Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS Football Club are in advanced talks with captain Ariel Sibanda over the extension of his contract, which expires on 31 December.
This follows the departure of goalkeepers coach Daniel Khumalo whose contract will not be renewed at the end of this year.
Earlier this year, Sibanda hinted this could be his last season in action, but he has been linked with several teams, while Bosso are unwilling to let him go given his wealth of experience.
It is believed that Sibanda has been offered a coaching job with the junior teams, as he is unlikely to command the first-team jersey next season. Sibanda has attracted the interest of several teams including newcomers to the Premier League, Scottland of Harare who are on a spending spree. However, Bosso say they are in talks with Sibanda over a contract extension for a man who has given all his professional career of 15 years to the club. “We are having positive talks with the player. The rest of the other issues surrounding Sibanda are just rumours,” said Highlanders chief executive officer Brian Moyo.
Sibanda has commanded the Highlanders number one jersey for over a decade-and-a-half after breaking into the first team in 2008 from the juniors.
He started doing duty for Bosso’s senior team in 2009 after their then-first-choice goalkeeper, Washington Arubi, left.
Since then, Sibanda has been Bosso’s trusted goalkeeper. However, this past season he has been largely on the sidelines owing to an injury, and his replacements, Raphael Pitisi and Reward Muza came into the picture.
The 34-year-old has won some trophies with Bosso, including the 2019 Chibuku Super Cup, 2013 Mbada Diamonds Cup, the BancABC Super 8, the NetOne-sponsored EasyCall Cup, and several Independence Cups, among others.
He is a four-time Goalkeeper of the Year and had as many calendar appearances making him one of the best-ever goalkeepers in the land.
However, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) championship has continued to elude him during his long stay at Bosso.
He disputes the notion that during all these years he has not had any serious competition for his place in the team.
Mangoye, as Sibanda is affectionately known, says Munyaradzi Diya and Njabulo Nyoni top the list of teammates that gave him a good run for his money.
