Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum Stars have hugely been shaken after losing 13 of their key players in the transfer market.
But coach Takesure Chiragwi is unfazed ahead of their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season opener against newcomers Kwekwe United at Bata Stadium tomorrow.
The miners didn’t exactly enjoy the ride in their failed bid to defend the league title after finishing the season empty-handed.
They were third on the table while they lost the Chibuku Super Cup in the final to Dynamos.
The Mhondoro team also failed to make any impact in the CAF Champions League, crashing out at the first preliminary stage.
It was a particularly bad year for the team even financially on the back of the global platinum recession and at some point, the players were rebelling over the late payment of their dues.
But things are shaping up now and Chiragwi is looking for a total transformation.
The club held a lavish player and kit unveiling ceremony yesterday after which they headed straight to training in preparation for the Kwekwe United match.
It is the second successive year in which they have been pitted to open the campaign against a newly-promoted team away from home having played Arenel Movers last year at Luveve on the opening day with the game ending in a frustrating goalless draw.
“Obviously we are starting away from home but hopefully we will try our best to make sure that we get a good result.
“I am sure we have done everything we ought to do during the pre-season. It has been a quite good period for us.
“We can only see when we play that competitive game and I will hope to start to see things that we’ve done on the Saturday game,” said Chiragwi.
“From there, I think we come up with things that we need to work on and improve as a team.
“But so far so good. Obviously, you know, it’s difficult when you prepare something that you don’t know what you’re going to meet, what you’re going to see. But generally, as football people, we have done what we’re supposed to do and I think we are in good shape to make sure we can also come in to compete.”
Chiragwi has added to his squad the pair of former ZPC Kariba defender Nyasha Gurende and Ashwin Karengesha along with Clyde Jonga from FC Porto Academy, Francis Dylan from a local social side Turf Wolfs as well as goalkeeper Tendai Chirara from GreenFuel and Trymore Murasiranwa from Valor in Canada.
He is confident the young players will do well after their integration into the team.
“Yes, you know, obviously it’s difficult to lose the first-choice players where you think you’ve done something good to have that continuity. But you also need to understand the football industry. It’s all about transiting the players, you know, the coaches. It’s a norm,” added Chiragwi.
“And we must have an idea of how we are going to solve and manage the situation, which is our job as coaches to make sure which ones come and add value to the team.
“I think we did that to try and have players that can also come and contribute and give value to the team.
“Of course we did not bring exactly experienced players, like the players that we lost, but we also took the advantage to make sure we can also promote those from the development side to the first team that we thought can also come in and compete and give value to the team.
“So, I think we’ve got a balanced squad that is going to compete throughout the season.
“Like I said, it’s difficult, you know, when you’re preparing in the pre-season and you don’t know what you’re going to face. But in football, obviously, I don’t remember seeing any coach who can prepare his team to lose a game.
“We always prepare to be the winners, but because it’s a competition, you have to make sure you go there and compete. If you compete well and you do well, take your chances defending well as a team, physically you’re okay, mentally you’re okay, chances of you winning the game are very high. So I think that’s what matters most,” he said.
