FC Platinum want to reclaim lost dominance

AS they unveiled their latest acquisitions yesterday, FC Platinum did not hide their intentions to reclaim their lost dominance of local football.

The Zvishavane-based side failed to defend the league title last season, which they held a record four consecutive times, finishing on fourth position in a race that was won by their platinum cousins, Ngezi Platinum Stars.

The club admits their performance last season was below expectations.

“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,” read a statement from FC Platinum.

The club says they have their sights on attaining continental glory as well.

“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,” it said.

The club also took time to pay gratitude to the several released players ahead of start of the new season.

“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. 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,” the club said.

FC Platinum yesterday announced six new arrivals ahead of the 2024 season with the Highlanders duo of Mbongeni Ndlovu and Brighton Mhanhire among the list of new signings. The list also includes central midfielder Shepherd Mhlanga from Chicken Inn, attctacking midfielder Davison Marowa from Herentals, Bothwell Tinashe Nzori from Black Mambas and goalkeeper David Simbarashe Bizabani from Green Fuel.

The Platinum miners also promoted Anesu Chirinda and Tapiwa Manuel Reves from their development side. Players that have left the Zvishavane-based outfit ahead of the start of the new season are Innocent Muchaneka, Perfect Chikwende, Walter Musona, goalkeeper Petros Mhari and Gift Mbweti. Musona and Chikwende have since joined ambitious Shamva-based side Simba Bhora.

The club is confident their coaches will get the best out of the players, while helping the club thrive and achieve its goals.

“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 prioritise 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. We can’t wait to see them in action and see how they will fit in with the rest of the team. We believe that they will not only elevate our performance on the field but also bring positive energy and camaraderie to our team culture,” said the club. –@innocentskizoe