FC Platinum get boost

the Mimosa Golf Invitational tournament, whose pro­ceeds will also be channelled to the football club.
“The money will go along in assisting FC Platinum. FBC Holdings are the roots to FC Platinum. They are not leaves or branches and we are very grateful to the donation which will go a long way in assisting the club,” said Nathan Shoko the club president. Priscilla Sadomba the group market­ing head at FBC Holdings said  her com­pany was   happy to be associated with FC Platinum “who have made a major impact in the Premiership.
“We believe in the club and it is also our way of ploughing back to the com­munity. It is one of the youngest teams in Zimbabwe that has shown a lot of mettle against seasoned clubs.
“As FBC we are part of that journey and we hope that FC Platinum will be a force to reckon with in the domestic and international scene,” said Sadomba who is also elder sister to Zimbabwe international striker Edward Sadomba.
FBC Holdings and FC Platinum struck a deal with the financial institu­tion at the beginning of the year, which saw the platinum miners wearing branded FBC MasterCard kit.
Meanwhile newly appointed FC Plat­inum captain Daniel Veremu has labelled their showdown with Shabanie Mine on Saturday as a grudge match.
“We are playing a grudge match against the asbestos miners and it is  not going to be easy. The match is going to be physical,’’ Veremu said.
Veremu said although they were the home team, they will appear like the visiting team in the derby as their rivals command a bigger following in Zvisha­vane.
“Shabanie has more supporters than us. Highlanders, Dynamos, CAPS  United fans normally support Shabanie when we are playing Shabanie. There is no other team that has fans who back us and it is just our few fans and us on the day so we need to motivate ourselves so that we achieve the goal against all odds.
“The match will involve a lot of power play because Shabanie thrives on long balls and we have to be physically strong. We are however excited to play Shabanie because kunyangwe vanhu ivavo vachitituka they pay their money to watch us and that makes football very interesting, Veremu said.
Former Warriors centre-back Veremu is a seasoned defender who has seen duty at such teams like CAPS United, the now defunct Lengthens, Gunners and Commando Bullets.
Veremu said a derby such as the Mbada Cup clash against Shabanie was  a self-motivating assignment.
“On Saturday we do not need the coach to motivate us but it is one game where we will have self motivation because we will be fighting for the crown.
“It is a match that will decide the kings of Zvishavane and we must defend our title. It is very good to meet Shabanie though it is a tricky encounter and the approach for the match will be different to the way we play our league games,” Veremu said.
Donald Ngoma, Mitchelle Katsvairo, Benjamin Marere Charles Sibanda and William Manondo who is claiming a record for the fastest goal scored this season will be looking to form the Plat­inum miners’ attack.
Shabanie Mine defender Rodney “Zhaba” Mware is also bracing for a tough time against Ngoma but urged the FC Platinum and Warriors forward to avoid his alleged diving antics.
“I am praying that Ngoma will not dive this time around like last season when he hacked himself  with no con­tact from Shabanie Mine defenders in the box and a penalty was awarded to FC Platinum and we lost the match 1-0.
“We then had to fight for survival as we were nearly relegated. Such practice is bad for our football and it destroys the name of the world most beautiful game,” said Mware.
The former Eagles defender also believes that Mandava is a happy hunt­ing ground for Shabanie.
“Mandava Stadium is the favourite hunting ground for FC Platinum but I would also like to remind our fans that we will be playing at home because Mandava Stadium is our stadium as we share it  with our brothers FC Platinum.
“We will be playing a dream  quarter final and fans must come in their num­bers to enjoy the match and rally behind their teams but not to cause problems at the  stadium.
“We just need fair play to prevail and losers should accept the result with dig­nity but I would like to warn FC Plat­inum that we are also much prepared for the encounter” said the 27 year-old Mware.
Mware said they would not spend time looking at who is who in the FC Platinum ensemble.
“I am aware that FC Platinum has names and we respect them so much but in the field of play we are not going to give them any respect.
“We are not going to fold our hands and watch them play but they must also brace for a tough encounter. They have a potent strike force that has Charles Sibanda) Mitchelle (Katsvairo) Donald, William (Manondo) and Benjamin (Marere).
“We are not going to assign anyone to guard them  because we also have Farai (Mususunye), Tarisai (Rukanda) Francis (Kanda) Nelson Maziwisa and Caleb (Masocha).
“Our only worry is that we are going to miss the upcoming defender (Blessed) Mbavarira who is in plaster,” said Mware.
Besides the injury to Mbavarira Shabanie have no other major injury worries.