Chiefs eye DRC trio

Thato Kala | Thursday December 19, 2013 14:56

 

Chiefs make a trip to Harare on the weekend of February 7-9 before hosting Zimbabwe’s most successful club, Dynamos, for the second league two weeks later.

Zimbabwe Warriors midfielder Elvis Meleka and his assistant coach at Chiefs, China Matlhaku, concur that the DRC-based trio would be a big boost for them especially after the departure of Tshepo ‘Talk-Talk’ Motlhabankwe.

“I know Dynamos in and out and I feel we (Chiefs) are a bit weakened now as a team. If it happens that Dirang, Phenyo and JJ successfully join us, we will be a stronger side going into the Champions League,” Meleka told Mmegi Sport.

Matlhaku said their international experience would be critical at that level. The three barely played football in DRC this season, with Moloi only making one appearance due to injury. His fellow countryman also made a handful of appearances and could possibly be loaned back to Chiefs next month. The trio joined CS Don Bosco last season on five-year deals.

'Their international experience would obviously be important for us,' Matlhaku said.  

He said they were looking to approach management to speak to them and see if they can keep the Zebras’ trio.

'We have not sat down with management to see if there is that possibility (of having them). We have been busy preparing for the last two games. If it happens that they be registered it will be a bonus for us,' he said.

Should Chiefs negotiate their passage into the first round, they will face the winner between Kano Pillars of Nigeria and DRC’s AS Vita. Thereafter, there is a possibility of facing South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs, who start off against Namibia’s Black Africa.

Matlhaku and Meleka believe they can shock Dynamos, who have won the league title in the neighbouring country for the last three successive seasons.

'We want to proceed to the next stage, I think we will use the January (transfer) window to prepare ourselves for that encounter,” he said.

Dynamos’ best achievement since reaching the 1998 final of the premier competition was getting to the semi-final in 2008 under the guidance of David Mandigora.

However, Meleka warns the Glamour Boys that Chiefs will not be walkover.

“They underrate Botswana football, but they forget Botswana is better placed in the Africa rankings than Zimbabwe. The league here has grown so much over the years and we will surprise them,” Meleka said.