Ailing Baroka seeking to shore up leaking defence

21 January 2017 - 13:49 By TMG Digital
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Baroka FC are thinking about adding to their defensive ranks after taking Zimbabwean defender Eric Mudzingwa on trial this week from Highlanders.

The news comes just days after the club confirmed they had completed the transfer from Botswana of midfielder Mpho Kgaswane from Gaborone United.

Mudzingwa is already 30 years old and has spent the last 11 years at Highlanders.

He would bring experience to a Baroka backline that has at times this season looked all at sea.

He has made a handful of appearances for the Zimbabwe national side‚ but none since 2011.

He will look to impress new coach Jacob Sakala this week with his trial set to end on Sunday.

Mudzingwa is the third Highlanders player to trial at a PSL club in this transfer window.

The pair of striker Prince Dube and defender Peter Muduhwa were recently at BidVest Wits‚ though any moves for them will only be made ahead of next season with the club having exhausted their foreign quota.

Baroka FC are currently propping up the Absa Premiership table and have made a number of new acquisitions in the January transfer window.

They have also relegated former coach Kgoloko Thobejane to assistant and appointed Jacob Sakala to the hot seat. The struggling club also hired Mark Harrison as technical director.

Meanwhile‚ Highlanders are hoping to camp in South Africa this month as part of their pre-season preparations and have targeted a high-profile friendly with African champions Mamelodi Sundowns

“We may take our pre-season preparations to South Africa for a training camp‚ but it’s still in the planning stages.

"The probability is that we will go to Polokwane for between four to seven days‚ depending on our sponsors and how much they are prepared to go in terms of hosting us‚” acting Highlanders chairman Modern Ngwenya told NewsDay.

“We may play practice matches and friendly games against the likes of Baroka Football Club‚ Polokwane City and even Bloemfontein Celtic‚ but the match that may come to fruition is the one against Mamelodi Sundowns.

“It’s still in its infancy‚ but we are looking forward to a trip to South Africa. That will be refreshing for the players and a morale booster ahead of the start of the season.”

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