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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER champions FC Platinum have unveiled the duo of ex-Highlanders players Brighton Manhire and Mbongeni Ndlovu among the half dozen players that will be part of the Zvishavane side as they seek to reclaim their place as the football kings of Zimbabwe.
The platinum miners yesterday ended the speculation surrounding the duo while also adding former Chicken Inn midfielder Shepard Mhlanga, ex-Herentals star Davison Marowa, Bothwel Tinashe Nzori and goalkeeper David Simbarashe Bizabani.
The Zvishavane side, who officially parted ways with eight players during the week, have also promoted from their ranks younger players Anesu Chirinda and Tapiwa Manuel Revesai.
Club president Blessing Garamumhango yesterday said they were repositioning the side to be competitive, not only on the domestic front, but also on the continent.
“FC Platinum is aiming to become a dominant force in Zimbabwe and Africa. The team has been preparing for the upcoming season, with the goal of success. The team has released several players and is investing in young players to ensure future growth and success.
“The club is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all players to thrive in. The team is excited to welcome new additions who will bring positive energy and help elevate the team’s performance,” said Garamuhango.
The platinum miners were dethroned as the champions of domestic football by fellow platinum-backed side Ngezi Platinum Stars, after dominating the previous four championships.
They finished the 2023 season empty-handed and that must not have gone down well with the Zvishavane side leading to club president Fabian Mashingaidze and chairperson Smartfin Techu stepping down from their positions. The club has since announced the arrival of Garamunhango as the new club president while Dumisani Sisale became the new chairman.
Garamunhango is aware of the weight of expectation with the local fans, mostly in the Midlands province, where the side hails from and is confident the team will deliver.
“The players’ dedication to their craft is evident in their training sessions. FC Platinum’s fans have high expectations, and the team’s recent performances have not disappointed.
“With the players’ abundance of skills, the future looks bright for FC Platinum, and they are well on their way to achieving their set targets by 2024,” said Garamuhango.
The platinum miners were champions in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021-2022 and have played CAF Champions League football all those years.
During their 12 years of Premiership football, they have also amassed several silverware, including the Chibuku Super Cup, the Castle Challenge Cup, the Independence Cup and the ZNA Charity Shield. But they finished fourth last season, 11 points behind the champions, Ngezi Platinum Stars. Garamuhango was also confident the coming in of the new players would revitalize their team.
“All these successes were as a result of the unity, the commitment to success that we have all shared. The last season was a difficult one for everyone associated with the club.
“However we managed to end the season in a relatively respectable position albeit lower than the Platinum standards.
“The standard of our league is increasing every year, and having won the league in four consecutive seasons, hakunganzi kudada if we say we are partly responsible.
“As has become our tradition of aiming high, our team has set its sights on Zimbabwe and the African continent, with the goal of becoming a dominant force in the region.
“In preparation for the upcoming season, our technical team has been working tirelessly to ensure that we are ready for the challenges that lie ahead and beyond.
“FC Platinum has recently released several players from our team and want to take a moment to express our appreciation for their contributions to our esteemed club. We are grateful for their time with us and wish them all the best in their future endeavours,” he said.
The players that left include captain Petros Mhari, Innocent Mucheneka, Perfect Chikwende, former Soccer Star Walter Musona, Raphael Muduviwa, Nomore Chinyerere, Gift Mbweti and Gift Bello who at 39 years is now heading into retirement after serving the platinum miners for close to a decade
Mhari has also retired from active football.
“We understand that parting ways with the team can be difficult for both the players and our fans. However, we believe that this decision is in the best interest of our team’s future success. We value the dedication and hard work that each of these players brought to the team and we hope that they carry these qualities with them as they move on to new opportunities.
“We believe that developing young players is one of our top priorities. We understand that the youth are the future of the sport and investing in them is crucial for the growth and success of the team.
“We have a dedicated coaching staff that focuses on providing our young players with the necessary skills and techniques to excel on the field. We also prioritize providing a safe and inclusive environment for all players to thrive in.
“Excitement is always high when new additions arrive. Our team has gone above and beyond to fulfil the coaches’ requests; we are confident that these players will be instrumental in helping us reach our club goals,” said Garamuhango.
Online Reporter