HIGHLANDERS coach Baltemar Brito has reproached the club management over its failure to secure the signature of Bulawayo Chiefs marksman Obriel Chirinda, whom he has been monitoring since last season.

Brito said the Highlanders leadership lost a golden opportunity to tie down Chirinda, who is now difficult to acquire as his stock keeps rising.

Although Highlanders spokesperson Nozibelo Maphosa said the club is still pursuing Chirinda, Brito has lost hope.

Chirinda notched a hat-trick on Sunday as The Ninjas dismantled Triangle 3-0 at Gibbo Stadium after netting a brace the previous week when his side beat Caps United 2-0 at Luveve Stadium.

He now sits on seven goals, one behind the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League leading scorer Fortune Binzi of Manica Diamonds.

“About bringing players (to the club) we don’t have the mentality or the culture to bring numbers. We look for one player and we look for some characteristics that the boy has and can come and upgrade our game in terms of quality. It is public (knowledge) that one of the players that we made an impression on the office to bring is (Obriel) Chirinda; not only now but even last season he was our main focus because we like him. He is a player who can bring a different dynamic that we don’t have at the moment,” Brito said.

He complained that the club leadership is being fed wrong information, hence the delays in sealing the deal.

“At the beginning of this month, we were close to bringing him in but there was some bad information, we don’t know if it was correct or wrong but I think the information was not true but the board (management) listened to these people and decided to bring the player later. Bulawayo Chiefs changed their coach and the player starts scoring, bringing him in now has become even harder. So we are in a situation where we are still trying to bring one more player like Chirinda but for Chirinda we don’t have too much hope now. We had the opportunity and sometimes when you get these opportunities in football you need to be quick and don’t listen to too many people. We lost one opportunity, but I think Highlanders learnt one lesson.”

Highlanders wrote to Bulawayo Chiefs a few weeks ago and The Ninjas are said to have requested the Bulawayo giants to give them three players in exchange.

But it appears that arrangement hit a brickwall and Chiefs are no longer willing to let go of Chirinda unless for an undisclosed hefty fee.

It was also reported that the striker could be bouncing back to Chicken Inn.

His contract at Chiefs runs until December next year. Highlanders host Manica Diamonds at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. — NewsDay