adminDon Makanyanga
NGEZI Platinum Stars coach Erol Akbay has pinned his hopes on mid-season signings to breathe life into the Mhondoro-based outfit’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship campaign.
The miners are sixth on the log table, nine points behind log leaders FC Platinum and tomorrow they face another tough test of their credentials when they visit giants CAPS United at the National Sports stadium.
However, their Dutch coach has blamed lack of a cutting edge in his attack for their inconsistent run and has since brought in former Kaizer Chiefs striker Michelle Katsvairo while talks are currently ongoing for Yadah forward Ariel Makopa.
Ngezi struggled in front of goal, scoring a paltry 13 goals in 15 matches at an average of 0,87 goals per match, something that has seen the club falling behind in the title chase.
But Akbay is confident that despite being released by South African side Free State Stars at the end of the 2018-19 season, Katsvairo could provide the goals his team badly need following their relegation to the National First Division.
“I know that Katsvairo is a very good striker, exactly the kind of striker I am looking for and that is why I am confident that this boy will give us a lot of goals in the second half of the season.
“With him in the team, we will go for it and see what happens,” Akbay said.
Katsvairo’s first dance with the Absa Premiership came in 2016 when he joined Kaizer Chiefs on a three-year deal but the former Chicken Inn forward failed to make an impact with the Soweto giants, who in turn loaned him to Tanzanian side Singida for a year.
When that loan deal expired, Katsvairo reverted to being a Chiefs plyer but Amakhosi offloaded him, thereby forcing the former Gunners man to return home and retrace his steps back to CAPS United.
Katsvairo’s stay at CAPS was brief and characterised by cameo appearances before he returned to South Africa to join Free State Stars but again he failed to make an impact.
After just one season with them, he was offloaded again.
Ngezi are also after midfielder Gerald Takwara’s signature after he was released by Ajax Cape Town last week following an unsuccessful stint with the South African-based side.
Takwara joined the Urban Warriors in January 2018 and signed a three-year deal. He made 23 appearances across all competitions during his one-and-half-year stay in Cape Town.
Ngezi could also unleash Billy Vheremu after he joined them at the start of the season when he moved from Mutare City. Vheremu has been promoted from their developmental side.
And former Dynamos midfielder Panashe Mutasa could be on his way to Ngezi Platinum Stars after undergoing trials with the club a fortnight ago.
Akbay, who finally broke his seven game winless streak last week with a 2-0 victory over Black Rhinos, hopes his charges will keep the momentum as he still harbours ambitions of winning the championship in his first year with them.
“Our priority is to be at the top of the league table and win the championship.
“In order to achieve that, we have to win our games. CAPS United are a big team but we have our targets,” said the Dutchman.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe is hopeful his side will maintain the kind of grit and fighting spirit they showed in the derby clash against Dynamos at Rufaro last Sunday.
“We hope to continue from where we left last week, although I know it will be difficult to reproduce such kind of perfomance.
“Performance is our priority and if we put up a fine one, we are guaranteed of good results,” said Chitembwe.
Fixtures:
Mushowani v ZPC Kariba (Trojan);
Hwange v Telone (Colliery);
CAPS United v Ngezi (National Sports Stadium).
Online Reporter