KINGSTONE ZIMUNYA
The HBA Super Six League transfer window officially closed at midnight on 31 January 2024, after a fairly busy month of trades, as teams jostled to strengthen their charges ahead of the second half of the season.
The HBA transfer window had opened on 2 January 2024 in accordance with Basketball Union of Zimbabwe regulations. In between, there was a total of twenty-three trades across Harare two leagues- The Super Six, and the second-tier A League.
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| Movers and shakers — JBC (top) and Mbare Bulls (bottom) did most of the trading in the just ended January transfer window |
As the dust settled, it was clear that JBC and Mbare Bulls were the most active during the transfer window, while other teams retained their core.
JBC
In the shocker of the January transfer window, six star players deserted log leaders JBC to join fellow Super Six clubs.
These are:
- Panashe Kuduya
- Dyvonne Pfachi
- Takudzwa Zamani
- Kudakwashe Pote
- Munyaradzi Chidzomba
- Rolland Changara
This is especially surprising, considering five of these six players were on the team sheet for JBC’s BAL Africa Qualifiers in November 2023.
Two months later, they have decided to switch their allegiances and help topple JBC from the top of the Super Six.
This might be a sign of some behind-the-scenes turmoil in the JBC camp, as controversy surrounded Pfachi’s transfer to Mbare Bulls, in addition to their Women’s team withdrawing from the league two weeks ago.
Tried and tested veterans Benson Nyatanga and Noah Penduka (captain and vice captain respectively) now form the core of the team.
To offset this borderline betrayal, coach Addison Chiware put on his scouting cap and brought in two players from second placed Basket Hounds-rising stars Manoah Ntini and Tafadzwa Michael Muroyiwa.
It seems Chiware was looking out for rough diamonds to polish into superstars as he also scooped Alfred Taimoni from bottom-table UZ Stars.
Mbare Bulls
Surely, another man’s poison is another man’s meat. Four of the six players that left JBC ended up at fifth placed Mbare Bulls. These are Pfachi, Zamani, Pote and Chidzomba.
Mbare Bulls also took in Tinotenda Chapfika from Basket Hounds; who immediately made an impact, shining in their Gameweek 10 win over UZ Stars.
ALSO READ: HBA Super Six Gameweek 11 Review: Leopards Academy wallop UZ Stars, Blades Receive Baptism of Fire
To complete their haul, Mbare Bulls raided the UZ Stars bench for Gilbert Maida. This brings their total transfers in to six, the highest tally of the January transfer window.
Only one player, Gabriel Mhosira, left the Mbare Bulls team for second-placed Basket Hounds.
Basket Hounds
Second-placed Basket Hounds decided to pick and choose from other teams to offset the departures of Ntini and Muroyiwa.
They acquired Gabriel Mhosira from Mbare Bulls, Rolland Changara from JBC, and young gun Elton Chigu from UZ Stars-possibly as Ntini’s replacement.
Thanks to Basket Hounds, Tafadzwa Chimanikire will get a taste of the big league this season, transferring from Harare A League side Harare City Hornets.
In addition to the young duo of Ntini and Muroyiwa going to JBC, Basket Hounds also lost Tinotenda Chapfika to Mbare Bulls.
UZ Stars
Although they’re essentially making up the numbers, bottom-table UZ Stars decided to go hunting for talent in the lower leagues to add some flesh to their bench.
They brought in Roland Chitendeya from Conquerors, Rodwin Samusodza from Stiggs, and Justice Mukaro Harare City Hornets.
This was to compensate for the departure of Alfred Taimoni to JBC, Gilbert Maida to Mbare Bulls, Elton Chigu to Basket Hounds; and Tatenda Nyamuturira who decided to leave the Super Six all together and join A League side Cameo.
Arcadia Bucs and Leopards Academy
Middtable rivals Arcadia Bucs and Leopards Academy balked the trend and had a peaceful January transfer window.
Understandably so, since they both managed to retain their benches.
Bucs only added two players—Panashe Kuduya from JBC, and 22 year old shooting guard Kumbirai Nazare from A League side Netone Patriots.
Leopards Academy dived down to the A League and retrieved Chris Tatenda Tsvarai from Hustlers, their only transfer of the window.
Women’s Division
In the Super Six Women’s Division, there was a lone traveller, Michelle Mudimu, who jumped from sinking ship JBC to join second placed Vixens.
It might seem like a storm in a teacup, but these January front office dealings will definitely affect how the action shapes up on the court as we go for the second half of the Super Six.
Thanks to this shaking of the pot, there are now scores to be settled, points to be proven, and a league to be won.
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