Zimbabwe side Chicken Inn have confirmed goalkeeper Donovan Bernard’s move to Motsepe Foundation side Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila [TTM].
The former national team goalie joins the Limpopo side on a two-year deal with an option of a one-year renewal.
“We are happy to say that it’s a done deal. Chicken Inn and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila have agreed on everything for Donovan Bernard to join the South African club.
“Tshakhuma have been monitoring the players through the use of technology and through their scouts. They actually ticked all boxes with our goalkeeper’s performance.
“Donovan will soon join his new teammates for a pre-season camp. It’s very rare for goalkeepers to be bought, and as Chicken Inn, we are happy about the deal,” Chicken Inn secretary-general, Tavengwa Hara, told Bmetro.
The 26-year-old has been instrumental for second-placed ‘Gamecocks’, keeping 10 clean sheets in 18 games. The Bulawayo side is coached by former AmaZulu coach Joey Antipas, a known admirer of the talented shot-stopper, and they are challenging for the Zimbabwe Castle Premier Soccer League.
In South Africa’s second-tier, Bernard will join compatriots Talbert Shumba of Free State Stats, Gerald Takwara of Venda Football Academy, JDR Stars trio of Ishmael Wadi, Temptation Chiwunga and Tapiwa Mandinyenya in South Africa’s second-tier league.
Bernard, who turns 27 on Tuesday, is a former How Mine and Ngezi Platinum Stars player.
He missed his club’s crucial top-of-the-table clash against Platinum Stars last weekend after accumulating three yellow cards. In his absence, they lost 3-0, allowing Stars to take over pole position.
After 19 games, they trail the Norman Mapeza-coached Stars by two points. Chicken Inn are already planning for life without Bernard, with Pride Zendera set to fill in the void he will leave.
Zendera, an equally experienced goalie, who has previously played in Swaziland, was in between the sticks when Stars humiliated Chicken Inn.
