English premiership clubs jostle for midfielder Nyandoro

By Lance Guma
20 June 2006

Another Zimbabwean soccer player could soon be following in the footsteps of Bruce Grobbelaar, Peter Ndlovu and Benjani Mawaruwaru and play his football in the English premiership. The UK based The Sun newspaper reports that premiership new boys Sheffield United have offered South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns £1 million for Zimbabwean midfielder Esrom Nyandoro. The Blades as they are affectionately called, face stiff competition from Bolton Wanderers and Fulham football clubs who are also interested in the player. United were recently promoted into the top division of English football and are looking at bringing quality players who can keep them in the league.
They have already paid £3 million for Preston North End defender Claude Davis and Nyandoro is said to have already been lined up for trials during pre-season training next month. The Sun newspaper reports that the trials are merely procedural since Sheffield United have already made up their minds on getting Nyandoro. At the centre of the deal will be Winston Makamure who also manages Peter Ndlovu. In an interview with The Herald Makamure said he would only join the negotiations once the two clubs have agreed a fee and he moves in to negotiate the financial package for the player.
Edmund Chimusoro, a South African based sports commentator, says the deal has a good chance of going through. He says the Sundowns owner, Patrice Motsepe, is a wealthy mining mogul and Nyandoro’s price tag could never scupper the deal. Sundowns are clearly interested in marketing themselves as a club with a pool of talented players and getting Nyandoro to play overseas would help boost that image, he says. The player himself is a disciplined midfielder and likes to play one touch football while avoiding fancy tricks. Chimusoro says this is why many English managers are chasing his signature.
Nyandoro was recently voted rookie of the year in the just ended football season and played more games than any other Sundowns player. He is the reigning 2005-06 Mamelodi Sundowns Player of the Year and he also scooped the Castle Lager Finest Moment award. His imminent move to the premiership could help in the development of Zimbabwean football. Experts say African teams that often do well in tournaments tend to have a lot of players playing in Europe and its thought their playing at the highest level helps in the development of the local game.