admin
Mehluli Sibanda in Johannesburg, South Africa
AFTER reaching the group stage of the Caf Champions League, Zimbabwean club champions FC Platinum are keen to reinforce their squad as they look to continue their dominance locally as well as on the continent.
FC Platinum got to the mini league phase of Africa’s premier club competition for the first time in their history. It has not been an easy ride for the Norman Mapeza-coached side as they are yet to win any of the five matches they have played so far. Pure Platinum Play have two draws and three defeats with one more remaining fixture against defending champions Esperance at Mandava Stadium on Saturday.
Evans Mtombeni, the FC Platinum chairman said they are eager to bring in new players in their bid to maintain their supremacy on the domestic scene and also to make a huge impression in Africa.
“I think as a matter of fact, you are likely to see new faces at FC Platinum, if everything goes according to plan with the objective of trying to strengthen our squad. In terms of the objectives of the next edition of the Caf Champions League, I think we will have to sit down and see how best we can review our performances and see if there is need for us to even better our targets,’’ Mtombeni said.
On what would be their target for the next edition of the Champions League, Mtombeni pointed out that they are aiming for nothing less than the group stage.
“Naturally people usually better their targets but it has to be matched with resources that we would have put to ensure that it matches our aspirations or ambitions but at the moment I can’t say we want to go beyond the group stage but definitely our minimum expectation is that after reaching the group stage this year, in the next edition we are aiming at nothing less than the group stage, that is natural,’’ he said.
According to the club chairman, FC Platinum will review their performance in the Champions League after their match against Esperance to see where they stand as they prepare to defend their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title and gear up for another appearance in the continental competition.
“We will meet technical and other key stakeholders so that we review our performance in the Caf Champions League, identify the learning points and gaps and those gaps will include the playing personnel gaps. I know for sure now the technical team is already on the ground trying to find ways of strengthening our squad to ensure that we compete both on the local front and in August as the Caf Champions League next edition roars into life,’’ he said.
@Mdawini_29
derick.khumalo