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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
AMBITIOUS Zvishavane club, FC Platinum yesterday temporarily shifted their training base from the Midlands and conducted their afternoon practice session at Barbourfields Stadium in preparation for their Saturday’s BancABC Sup8r Cup semi-final clash against Monomotapa.
All BancABC Sup8r Cup semi-finals will be played at Barbourfields Stadium with the FC Platinum-Monomotapa encounter set for Saturday while Dynamos will take on Shabanie Mine at Emagumeni on Sunday, 2pm kickoff time.
The move to get the feel of the venue before their semi-final clash with Monomotapa shows that the platinum miners are taking the weekend game seriously and want to advance to the next stage.
If they make it past Monomotapa, FC Platinum will be in the running for the $120 000 winners’ prize money.
In an interview with Chronicle Sport in Bulawayo yesterday, FC Platinum’s gaffer Lloyd Mutasa who is seeking his first silverware with the Zvishavane side said he was happy with the attitude of his players.
He said the players’ work rate at training was making it difficult for his technical team to come up with their final 18-man squad that will face Monomotapa.
“I think so far so good we are in the right direction and these youngsters are really working hard. Everyone wants to be in the team and my hopes are that they (players) can carry the same attitude to the semi-final.
“I am really enjoying the level of commitment these players are giving and unfortunately as coaches we cannot take everyone for the game but I am confident that whoever comes in will do a great job,” said Mutasa.
The FC Platinum coach is spoilt for choice as he has a squad of talented players who on a good day can overrun their opponents with ease.
Mutasa has experienced goalkeepers in Francis Tizayi, Petros Mhari and Tolbert Shumba at his disposal with former national team defender Daniel Vheremu marshalling the defence line which might have the Moyo twins Elvis and Kevin and Raphael Mudhuviwa.
FC Platinum is also dangerous when venturing upfront as they have a formidable midfield department as well as good strikers who are hungry for goals.
Some of the midfielders available for selection include Thabani Kamusoko who has been a vital cog for the team playing as a defensive midfielder, Allan Gahadzikwa, Joel Ngodzo, Welcome Ndiweni who is starting to enjoy a new lease of life since the coming in of Mutasa and Ali Sadiki who is nursing slight knock but should be available for the game.
Ndiweni said they are looking at burying Monomotapa.
“If you look at the level of competition in our team you can see that we are hungry for success. Everyone is confident of winning and that spirit of wanting to achieve good results is the one that is driving us. I am confident that we are going to beat Monomotapa but that doesn’t mean that we are undermining them,” Ndiweni said.
Charles Sibanda who scored Zimbabwe’s solitary goal against Zambia to book the Warriors’ place at next year’s African Nations Championships (Chan) finals in South Africa, Donald Ngoma and Nelson Maziwisa are expected to lead FC Platinum’s strike force.
Monomotapa will not be pushovers and FC Platinum must be wary of players like Ronald Chitiyo, Obey Mwerahari, Zvikomborero Bizeki, Hillary Mugoniwa and Charles Rukwanhi.
Fixtures
Saturday: FC Platinum v Monomotapa (Barbourfields Stadium)
Sunday: Dynamos v Shabanie Mine (Barbourfields Stadium)
***All matches kickoff at 2pm, screened on Supersport 9
Online Reporter