adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE former Highlanders duo of Joel “Josta” Ngodzo and Welcome “Waroowa” Ndiweni has blamed lack of game time for their disastrous stay at FC Platinum where they have been frozen out of the team. The two, who had promising careers when they were juniors and tipped to scale great heights in football, have failed to live up to their billing at the ambitious Zvishavane club.
Ngodzo joined FC Platinum from Highlanders at the beginning of 2011 when the club was promoted to the Premiership after winning the 2010 Zifa Central Region Division One Soccer League championship and his contract runs out at the end of the year.
Ndiweni joined FC Platinum from Masvingo United on a two-year deal which expires on 31 December.
In separate interviews, the players said they were eager to relaunch their careers elsewhere.
They said that they had not developed as players at FC Platinum.
Ngodzo seemed to admit that he made a wrong career move by joining FC Platinum.
When he made his move to FC Platinum, Ngodzo had made it into the 2010 Soccer Star of the Year finalists as the first runner-up to Charles Sibanda.
“Look my brother, I am turning 24 years on 1 December and if I look back, I haven’t developed the way that I anticipated I would. As one grows older, they begin to appreciate the little things in life like for example not everything is about money. Financially I cannot complain about my stay at FC Platinum but what I want is to play football.
I believe it is wrong to wait for month end and go to the bank and withdraw a salary without having made valuable input into the team.
“It is true that my contract ends in December and my desire is to make an informed decision that will see me moving to a club where I can develop and play regularly.
This is not to say that I should just walk into the team, but what I am trying to say is that I have had my time at FC Platinum and this might be the right time for me to seek other challenges that can enhance my career,” said Ngodzo.
He is not the only player that was on the 2010 Soccer Star of the Year calendar who joined FC Platinum. Sibanda and Bhekimpilo “Bhaka” Ncube joined the “Moneybags” from Motor Action, Menard Mupera and Ngodzo were from Highlanders while Benjamin Marere of Dynamos also signed for the ambitious Zvishavane club.
Ncube spent only a season before getting a lifeline at Highlanders at the beginning of the 2012 season with Mthulisi Maphosa.
Ngodzo has set his sights on rejoining Highlanders.
“Highlanders is where I was nurtured and I don’t think it will be wrong for me to try my luck there. At the moment I am committed to FC Platinum and I want to see my contract running out well before I think of my next move,” Ngodzo said.
The story is different with Ndiweni as he has played more games than Ngodzo since the arrival of Lloyd Mutasa at the Moneybags.
“I have been looking at the quality that is there at FC Platinum and in my opinion, we have some of the best talent in the land, good facilities and a great technical team.
Competition is tough which is healthy but there are times when as a player you feel that you have played your part and it is time to face new challenges. Obviously no one wants to be on the bench every time but that is the coach’s decision to make as he feels that’s the best way for the team.
“To say I am happy to sit on the bench most of the times will be a lie and that is why I am saying I have to try new challenges. Whatever step I take next must not be driven by money but it should improve me as a player,” Ndiweni said.
Online Reporter