HARARE - Botswana-based Zimbabwean defender Arnold Chaka is eyeing a return to the Castle Premiership when his contract with Mochudi Centre Chiefs expires in July.
Chaka joined Centre Chiefs in 2011 from Gunners and lead the club to two consecutive beMobile Premiership titles in 2012 and 2013.
“My contract is ending on July 31 and I have suspended all negotiations this side. I’m hoping to get a move back to Zimbabwe which is my first preference,” Chaka told the Daily News yesterday.
“I think I have had a successful stay in Botswana so far judging by the titles I have won and it is time for me to come back home to try a new challenge.”
Chaka made a name for himself in Zimbabwe when he formed a solid centre back partnership with Norman Togara that helped Gunners to their 2009 Zimbabwean league title.
The 32-year-old stopper is capped a number of times for Zimbabwe after he was called up by former Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo in 2012.
Chaka is also teammates with fellow Zimbabwean midfielder Elvis Meleka at Centre Chiefs.
Meleka’s contract is also running out at the end of the season but it was not yet clear whether the Agatha Shaneti Soccer Academy graduate will be renew his contract with the Gaborone-based side.
Centre Chiefs are set to lose their Botswana crown this season as they currently trail log leaders Township Rollers by four points with two games to go before the season ends.
Chaka and Meleka were recently in Zimbabwe with Chiefs for their African Champions League preliminary round qualifier against Dynamos.
Chiefs lost the first leg 3-0 at the National Sports Stadium in February before the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the return leg in Botswana as DeMbare progressed to the first round.