Belgian side keen to keep Nyasha

NYASHA Mushekwi faces the possibility of spending the rest of the year out of the game, but that has not stopped his Belgian club KV Oostende seeking to extend his stay with them.

The 26-year-old moved to Belgium on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns for this season, but a ligament tear in his knee has left him sidelined since February.

He is beginning the long road to recovery this week with the start of gymwork, but the player’s agent, Ralph Nkomo, told the Dispatch that he will likely only play at the end of the year … at best.

“After five or so weeks sitting on the couch following surgery, it will be good for him mentally to start working in the gym,” said Nkomo. “He is staying strong, he is coping, but my colleagues in Belgium are taking him to a sports psychologist just to help him stay on the right track.

“He is looking at coming back in November or December as a best-case scenario, maybe longer, so he has a lot of hard work ahead of him. But we are happy for him to stay in Belgium and receive the best medical care he can get.

“From a Sundowns point of view it would make sense as well as they would receive a fee and then obviously not have to pay him while he is injured.”

Mushekwi will still have two years remaining on his contract with the Brazilians after this season following the Tshwane club’s insistence that he sign a new three-year deal at Chloorkop before allowing him to leave for Belgium to ensure they can cash in with a transfer fee should his move turn out to be a success.

Nkomo said Oostende have declared their interest in keeping the Zimbabwean international on beyond this season, but that the matter sits between them and Sundowns.

Mushekwi has scored just twice in Belgium this season, including one goal against Anele Ngcongca’s Genk, but Oostende value his powerful running upfront and his ability to bring teammates into the game. Those goals have come in 13 starts and seven substitute appearances.