daniel chigunwe
Don Makanyanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NGEZI Platinum Stars will approach their final game of the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season away to CAPS United with one eye at the Chibuku Super Cup final a week later.
The 2023 league champions are fully aware that they can no longer finish higher or lower than third place and will have every reason to be conservative against CAPS United at Rufaro on Sunday and reserve the best for November 30 when they face Dynamos.
It is a repeat of the 2023 final which was played at the Baobab where Dynamos won 2-0 for their maiden Chibuku Super Cup.
The teams met in a re-arranged league match at the Baobab last weekend with Ngezi Platinum winning 2-0 while Dynamos coach Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe said they had avoided giving their opponents a true picture of what they will face in the cup final.
Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva, who was the acting coach while Takesure Chiragwi was away with the Warriors, felt the win gave them confidence ahead of the Chibuku Super Cup final.
“We wanted the win.
“It was a very important win for us, especially for the players, it gives us confidence as we prepare to face Dynamos in the Chibuku Super Cup.
“It’s a win that is going to motivate us. It’s a win that we are going to build from as we look forward to the final,” said Mutiwekuziva.
He reiterated that they are going all out to win the cup final and return to the CAF inter-club tournaments after a disappointing Champions League experience this year.
Victory in the Chibuku Super Cup takes the winner to the CAF Confederation Cup.
“Our main target is to play in the African Safari, and after we failed to defend our league title the only way we can do so (represent the country in African Safari) is by winning the Chibuku Super Cup as our aim is to win and to win it and also represent the country again in the Confederations Cup,” said the Ngezi Platinum Stars assistant coach.
Ngezi Platinum are already looking ahead to the 2025 domestic season.
“Winning against Dynamos was a very important result for us as it ensured that we achieved a top four finish.
“We were champions last season but we were dethroned by Simba Bhora and we can’t catch FC Platinum, so I think the third position is the best for us.
“Finishing in that position shows that we are still a force to reckon, though we should have gone for the title.
“I think we’ll organise ourselves, re-organise ourselves and come back stronger in the upcoming season, next season,” said Mutiwekuziva.
Online Reporter