FC Platinum expectations high as ever

COLLIN Nikisi, the FC Platinum chief executive officer says the club’s expectations of glory remain as high as ever.

He said there is every expectation on new coach Joel Luphahla to deliver.

Nikisi joined the former league champions late last year, replacing Denzil Mnkandla, who is now the boss at Highlanders. He said top priority is to restore the glory of old and expressed confidence in the former Highlanders, Supersport (South Africa), Paphos and Zimbabwe Saints star delivering.

“The club’s ambitions are high, we are aiming to restore the glory days with Luphahla at the helm,” said Nikisi.

He said Luphahla had brought in talent from the region to fuse with local arrivals to bolster the squad, which has also seen some players depart.

FC Platinum arrived this week from a tour of duty, which saw the team set up pre-season camp there. The club spent almost two weeks in Zambia, which alongside Malawi has become a favourite destination for local teams.

“Pre-season preparations are underway, the team just returned from a two-week training camp in Zambia under new coach Joel Luphahla,” said Nikisi.

“The ultimate target remains the league title.”

He emphasised that every top team wishes to win the championship.

“Every top club aspires to be champions, winning the championship is a process and everyone is focused on building the base and core of achieving success,” said the FC Platinum chief executive a former journalist in the Midlands.

The club rung in some changes with hopes of better fortunes.

Departing from the former Castle Lager Premier League champions were Wallace Magalane, Davison Marowa, Bothwell Nzori, Felex Moyo, Ronald Mate, Polyester Shoko, Misheck Ngwenya, David Bizabani and Vincent Nyangulu.

Sherperd Mhlanga and Shelton Moyo left for Highlanders leaving the club to hunt for superb replacements to drive the club’s ambitions.

For replacements, the Zvishavane outfit went as far as West Africa bringing in goalkeeper, Ekoi Manfred.
Luphahla added Raphael Pitisi to the roaster, a young goalkeeper he trusts from their time together at NetOne.

Nikisi described the arrivals as exciting talents.

To provide the goalkeeping department with cover, the club bought Takunda Vareta and Maxwell Paipi while adding to the competition in the engine room with players like David Mangezi, Tadiwa Muchenje and Garikai Dematsika.

The forwards who were included in the roaster are Emmanuel Dogbey, Tjahikika Mbakondja, McKinnon Mushore, Tinashe Ruzive and Trevor Bhunu.

Nikisi disclosed that the club had recalled Tinashe Ruzive from his loan spell at Bikita Minerals and promoted 16-year-old Brian Karipi to the senior team.

The big question on everyone’s mind is will Luphahla fill in the shoes of Norman Mapeza who won three titles with the Midlands platinum miners or he may surpass the standards set before.

Lizwe Sweswe was in charge when FC Platinum won the other title while Mapeza had joined Chippa United of South Africa.