adminwounds of how they blew their golden chance to become only the second team, after St Paul’s Musami, to take the league title outside Harare and Bulawayo.
Kugona Kunenge Kudada crashed under the weight of expectations as a charging Dynamos made up for lost ground, with a campaign full of character, to wipe out a huge deficit and ultimately win the championship on goal difference two years ago.
Needing just a draw at home, to effectively end the contest in the penultimate match of a riveting season, FC Platinum were beaten by the Glamour Boys in a charged atmosphere as defender Daniel Veremu scored an own goal.
Two years later, FC Platinum have rung the changes and brought in a new coach to challenge DeMbare’s recent monopoly of the league championship.
Chilumba said he was ready to help his new employers.
“Our main objective is to better last season’s performance. FC Platinum finished in seventh position and we feel that the current team must better that,” said the Zambian gaffer.
“We want to win more as a team and it will be good to meet again here celebrating success at the end of the season.
“If we work together it will be very possible to bring silverware.”
FC Platinum will clash with neighbours Shabanie Mine at Mandava on Sunday in the C.G Msipa Scholarship Trust Charity match.
Yesterday FC Platinum donated branded kits to four schools in the area.
Chilumba handed over the kits to the headmasters who were accompanied by the team captains.
“We are living up to our promise. When we were appointed into office we promised to engage the community and this is just the start of better things to come,” FC Platinum president, George Mawere, said.
“We are going to set up a new pitch and fence it for Gresham Primary School and the local teams in Mandava.
“We are also going to refurbish Chiedza Hall and set up a gym for the community.
“We are also going to refurbish all the sporting facilities in and around Zvishavane.”
Mawere said his club was working on establishing a skills’ development centre at Chiedza Hall where people in the community would be equipped with technical skills.
He hailed his predecessor, Nathan Shoko, for driving that vision.
“If the centre is established we would like to see players enrolling at the centre so that they will have something to do in life after football,” said Mawere.
“We don’t want to see players after suffering after their playing days are over. We are also willing to assist the players in starting income-generating projects so that they continue to live a decent life.”
Online Reporter