HARARE - Zimbabwe champions Dynamos are battling to retain several key players from the 2012 all-conquering season ahead of next year’s African Champions League and domestic campaigns.

Most of the club’s leading players have been targeted by different South African clubs, who are looking to bolster their squads in January’s mid-season transfer window.

To worsen matters, some of the players on the radar of foreign clubs are already registered by the Harare giants for the Champions League.

The 25-man Champions League provisional squad includes the names of forwards Roderick Mutuma, Simba Sithole and Farai Mupasiri as well as midfielders Tawanda Muparati and Tichaona Mabvura, who are all reportedly seeking moves to the Absa Premiership.

Mutuma, who previously underwent trials at Ajax Cape Town following the 2011 season in which his 13 goals won him the Golden Boot award, is believed to be desperate for a move outside the country following two full seasons in the local Premiership.

South Africa’s National First Division side Dynamos have also been monitoring the striker since last year and are determined to bring him to the club.

Sithole, who still has six months left on his one-year contract with the Zimbabwe champions, is reportedly on the wish list of Bloemfontein Celtic and can join the Free State outfit as soon as January.

Soccer Star of the Year Denver Mukamba, a cornerstone of the club’s league and cup double, has already been omitted from the squad with his switch to South African club Bidvest Wits almost a done deal.

The player earmarked as his replacement, Mabvura, was recently on trials at SuperSport United.

Dynamos may also lose captain Muparati, who is said to be headed for Absa Premiership debutants Chippa United during the Christmas break.

Another challenge facing the club is that some of the Champions League-registered players are still contracted to their local clubs and are yet to put pen to paper on their Dynamos deals.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SQUAD

George Chigova, Artwell Mukandi, Tatenda Mukuruva, Patson Jaure, Gift Bello, Ocean Mushure, Thomas Magorimbo, Augustine Mbara, Aaron Katebe, Morris Kadzola, Sydney Linyama, Russel Madamombe, Obey Mwerahari, Francesco Zikumbawire, Milton Makopa, Stephen Alimenda, Cliff Sekete, Tawanda Muparati, Devon Chafa, Farai Mupasiri, Tichaona Mabvura, Murape Murape, Roderick Mutuma, Martin Vengesai, Simba Sithole.