New blow for Bhasera

Sports — By on January 5, 2010 10:09 pm

By Petros Kausiyo

ZIMBABWE international defender Onismor Bhasera faces a prolonged stay on the sidelines amid reports that the club he has been targeting to join — English Premiership outfit Portsmouth — are mired in financial problems and cannot sign any new players at the moment.

Bhasera has been inactive for more than seven months since he fell out with South African Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs and was later followed by a botched attempt to move out of the club.

The former Harare United and Maritzburg United left-back has already impressed Portsmouth, but a deal to allow him to play was stalled because of his contractual dispute with Chiefs.

At the time Bhasera attempted to move out of Chiefs, the Soweto giants claimed he still had a year running in the contract they have with the him.

Bhasera and his handlers countered Chiefs’ claims arguing that the Warriors defender was a free agent and even tried to take their case with the world soccer governing body Fifa.

There had been hopes that the Bhasera saga would be settled during the English Premiership transfer window, which opened on January 1 and allow the defender to make his long-awaited appearance at Fratton Park.

But it has emerged that Bhasera faces a prolonged stay on the sidelines with no hint of the dispute between Chiefs and Pompey easing.

It has also emerged that the English Premier League will use £7 million in television revenues due to financially stricken Portsmouth to pay debts the club owes to other Premiership teams.

The move is allowed under Premier League rules protecting clubs that are owed money from player transfers.

Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Watford are in line for a share of the payment.

Pompey only managed to pay their non-playing staff their December wages on Monday after securing a short-term bank loan.

The players are expected to be paid their December wages this week.

But crucially for Bhasera’s career, Portsmouth remain under an embargo stopping them from signing any new players.

Fans are also reportedly planning protests against the club’s owner, Saudi businessman Ali Al Faraj.

Portsmouth — who owe Chelsea money for defender Glen Johnson’s move — currently anchor the English Premiership standings.

While Bhasera is still uncertain about his career, his Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari had his future at big-spending Manchester City confirmed by Italian coach Roberto Mancini.

Benjani marked his return to action for Manchester City by scoring the winner in an FA Cup third round against Middles-borough on Saturday and Mancini insisted after the game that the striker whose stay at Eastlands has been blighted by injuries was not up for sale.

Ironically, Benjani had been constantly linked with a return to Pompey where he was a crowd favourite under the Harry Redknapp era.

However, Mancini who recently replaced Mark Hughes as City manager put the matter to rest when he said Benjani would remain at Eastlands.

Mancini insisted Benjani could play a significant role in the second half of the season, with City aiming to make it to Wembley on two fronts.

The former Inter boss, whose job prospects beyond this season may hinge on ending the club’s 34-year wait for a major trophy also spoke about Benjani’s goal against Boro.

“Benjani came in and took his goal really well. He looked good throughout the game and I was pleased with his display.

“He has shown me what he can do and that can only be good for the club and long may it continue,’’ Mancini said.

Bhasera’s other Warriors teammates — Esrom Nyandoro, Tinashe Nengomasha, Thomas Sweswe, and the man who replaced him at Chiefs, Zhaimu Jambo and teenage forward Knowledge Musona — are also back in South Africa to prepare for the resumption of that country’s Premiership.

The South African-based contingent had returned home for the festive holidays, but are now back at their bases as they prepare for the restart of the championship race early next month.

Nyandoro, who has led resurgent Mamelodi Sundowns into second place with 44 points, three behind leaders and champions SuperSport United told our Bulawayo Bureau that he was aiming at winning the title in his first season as the Brazilians captain.

“My 2010 resolution is to be a championship-winning captain. I have won a number of titles as a player with Amazulu (Zimbabwe) and Sundowns before, but it will be a great honour for me to win the 2009/10 championship as a captain.

“We are in a good position. Things are starting to shape up for us on the log and we are strongly fighting for the championship. Seven games seem like a small number but believe you me those are many.

“Any slip-up any time will see us lose grip and we have to stay focused all the way.

“This has been a difficult, challenging season for Sundowns. We did not start the season well and the coach needed time to work out the combinations.

“Sometimes we train twice and the good thing is that the team is coming up well again.

“This is my sixth season at Sundowns and I am enjoying every moment of it. There are a number of talented players and I thank God, my wife, family and supporters who have been supportive all the way.

“There are a number of talented players who play the same position as I do who have come and gone and I am glad that I stood the test of time.

“To be realistic, I do not see myself moving out of South Africa, as I will be turning 30 years soon and its now late for me.

“Teams in Europe prefer younger players and I am not regretting that I did not move abroad,” Nyandoro said.

Gritty Chiefs midfielder and vice-captain Nengomasha has also refused to rule out his team’s chances of landing the championship title.

Nengomasha was pleased with the kind of form that Chiefs hit just before the break and reckoned that Amakhosi — who are third and six points behind SuperSport — will come back from the back stronger.

Chiefs had a slow start to the season and were at one stage anchoring the 16-team table.

But the Soweto giants won six and drew one of their last nine league matches in a strong run just before the break that Nengomasha believes could take them to the Promised Land when the race resumes on February 3.

“Had we been able to collect this many points in the first month of the season, we would have been talking a different story at this time,” the gritty midfielder told his club’s official website.

“Nevertheless, the team has worked together towards ensuring that we began strongly in the second round and have managed to do that.

“Our aim is to carry on into 2010 and win as many of our remaining six league games as possible. We have the eagerness, confidence and the potential to be able to do just that,’’ Nengomasha said.

Sadly, there are no such dreams yet for Bhasera as he remains on the sidelines. The Herald

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