KAIZER Chiefs team manager Bobby Motaung has paid glowing tribute to Zimbabwe soccer internationals Tinashe Nengomasha and Onismor Bhasera for their dedication and commitment to the South African Premiership giants’ cause.

Motaung, an influential figure at Chiefs was in the country at the weekend and watched the Northern Region Division One clash between Aces Youth Academy and Zinwa as well as the Premiership showdown between Dynamos and Monomotapa,Both matches were at Rufaro.

Bobby, son of club owner and chairman Kaizer Motaung, however, took time to reflect on the contributions that midfield workhorse Nengomasha and enterprising left back Bhasera had made to the Johannesburg glamour club’s bid to win titles.

Motaung revealed that their decision to visit Zimbabwe and scout for more talented players from the domestic leagues was largely influenced by the impact that the Warriors pair of Nengomasha and Bhasera have made at Chiefs.

Nengomasha and Bhasera, Motaung said, were hard-working players whose work ethic was also having a rub-on effect on most of their teammates.

Chiefs might have finished third behind champions SuperSport United and their old enemies Orlando Pirates but they remain one of South Africa’s two biggest clubs with Pirates.

Motaung believes Chiefs could become an even stronger force should they secure more players from Zimbabwe of the calibre of his Warriors pair.

Nengomasha, currently the club vice-captain, was also in the company of his team’s delegation on their scouting mission at Rufaro.

The Warriors midfielder, back home for an off-season break has made 224 appearances for Chiefs, 213 of them starting since he made his debut for Amakhosi in a goalless draw against Amazulu on April 3, 2002.

Then, Nengomasha had been part of Zimbabwe’s Cosafa Under-20 cup winning side that was under the guidance of Nelson Matongorere.

Nengomasha’s profile at Chiefs grew steadily with the former Black Aces and Motor Action anchorman reaching the highest point of his career in South Africa in the 2004-2005 season when being voted the Premiership’s best player.

He was also voted the Kaizer Chiefs’ Players Player of the Year and was rated the best player by the readers of top-selling South African soccer magazine, Kick-off.

Bhasera has featured in 63 matches for Chiefs, 62 of them starting since joining them from Maritzburg United in 2007.

But it is the praise heaped by Motaung on his Warriors pair that is an acknowledgement of the quality of the domestic game and should serve as a confidence-booster to the local players who are eager for a move to the South African Premiership.

“Tinashe and Onismor are showing that they come from a good culture. That is why we are here to see if we can get such players who have the dedication, commitment and tactical discipline,’’ Motaung said.

The Chiefs team manager also felt that the Zimbabwean players had shown a great deal of discipline in their respective clubs.

“The players here are disciplined tactically and Tinashe and Onismor are showing that in South Africa and they are proving that they have come from a country with a good football culture’’.

He said Dynamos and Monomotapa’s African Champions League exploits had also proved the quality of the Zimbabwean game.

DeMbare reached the Champions League semi-final before losing to Cotonsport of Cameroon last year while Monoz surprised everyone, including themselves, by advancing to the mini-league stage on their first attempt in the competition.

Motaung said his club was keen to forge greater co-operation with local sides and said that Chiefs were looking at that interaction increasing in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup to be hosted by South Africa.

“There should be closer interaction in terms of matches between our clubs but unfortunately tightness of the fixtures has been hampering progress in that respect.

“But I think there will be more games between South African and Zimbabwean clubs.

“I think things are changing for the better with more stability here and an improvement in the economy and next year before the World Cup we would like to come here for some games or have some Zimbabwean teams in South Africa,’’ he said.

Chiefs have already swooped on Zimbabwe youth international striker Knowledge Musona of Aces Youth Academy.

They have also shown great interest in talented Monomotapa striker Darryl Nyandoro and another Aces forward Khama Billiat