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Silver’s thuso bid rejected

 

PremierBet Wizards FC have rejected Silver Strikers’ offer  to sign enterprising midfielder Thuso Paipi on permanent basis.

Wizards’ owner and director Peter Mponda confirmed the development, saying the Bankers’ offer was on the lower side and did not reflect the value of the player.

Paipi is currently on loan at Silver until the end of the season, but Mponda claims that there was an agreement that he can be recalled.

Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers were also reported to have shown interest, but according to Mponda, it is Bullets who have made advances.

“We gave them [Silver] a platform and listened to their offer, but after evaluation it was not what we wanted or expected and we terminated the talks,” said Mponda in a telephone interview yesterday.

Silver want him back: Chawanangwa
Silver want him back: Chawanangwa

He could, however, not disclose how much the Bankers were offering nor could he state the value of the player.

“All I can say is that we have received a better offer from Bullets, but we are still discussing,” said Mponda.

Silver Strikers general secretary Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda confirmed approaching Wizards to buy the player outright.

“It is true we have been having talks on that issue. All I can say now is that talks are at an advanced level. We are confident of having the player on permanent deal,” he said.

However, despite Mponda’s claims that the player’s loan deal is open to termination, Nyirenda said: “We signed a deal with Wizards that Thuso will play for Silver until the end of the season and that is what will happen.”

Bullets general secretary Kelvin Moyo said the technical panel is handling the issue of players that the club is targeting during the current transfer window.

“We were told that Paipi was part of the players wanted by the technical committee. We are yet to be updated on the progress,” he said.

Meanwhile, Silver have said they want to re-sign their former striker Chawanangwa Kawonga from his Mozambican club Chibuto FC, but his agent James Pondamale says the bankers cannot afford the player.

Kawonga joined Chibuto FC from Silver in 2014 at K6.5 million and the agent says the player’s market price is now beyond Silver’s reach.

He said apart from Kawonga they were also targeting their former midfielder Young Chimodzi Jnr who has returned after a stint with Greek second tier league side PGS Kissamikos FC.

“Yes, these two players might be rejoining us. For Young Chimodzi Jnr, the deal is almost done,” he said. “As for Chawanangwa, we are still discussing.”

Kawonga yesterday refused to comment if he would be willing to kiss goodbye Mocambola and rejoin his former club, but his agent James Pondamale expressed doubt on whether the Bankers can afford the player.

He said: “For Chawanangwa they will have to buy him back. Remember they sold him at K6.5 million. Besides that, do you think a player who is getting an equivalent of close to K1 million in Mozambique can return to Silver? Even some Mozambique lower division teams pay more money than Super League teams.”

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