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THERE was a time not so long ago when the clash between Ngezi Platinum Stars and FC Platinum generated a lot of interest, “Platinum derby” they called it.
Two teams that threatened to turn Zimbabwean football on its head, both bankrolled by Platinum mining companies.
The battle for supremacy was real, high-octane stuff and top-drawer performances characterised clashes between the two sides.
FC Platinum bagged the league title four times, with three of those coming on the trot, while Ngezi Platinum won it once in 2023.
For some time, platinum sides ruled Zimbabwean football.
Somehow, along the way, they both lost their bearings and failed to build on their successes.
Fixtures pitting the two sides like their opening match of this campaign at Baobab Stadium on Saturday have become ordinary.
No hype, no attention, this is a match that has probably skipped the majority of football fans.
Everything sounds new for the platinum sides, new coaches, new players and perhaps both sides are new to the “dark horse” tag.
Ngezi Platinum Stars, however, appear to have come off the worst from this fall from grace.
Madumburo lost coach Takesure Chiragwi to Caps United, taking with him several players to the Green Machine.
New coach Philemon Mutiwekuziva is on a rebuild of some sort, but is hamstrung by the transfer ban imposed upon the Mhondoro-based side for failing to pay former coach Benjani Mwaruwari.
FC Platinum coach Joel Luphahla insists that Ngezi Platinum Stars still have a sting in them.
“We are saying to ourselves that we do not want to lose our home games and I’m equally sure that it is the same thing that is being said by Ngezi Platinum Stars,” Luphahla said.
“We are faced with a mammoth task, the energy levels and enthusiasm is very high, I’m confident we will go there and get a good result.
“A lot of people are saying Ngezi lost a lot of players, but to me, I feel that the bulk of the players that made the team are still there; they are a good team with one of the best coaches.”
After a near-complete overhaul during the preseason, where FC Platinum made several changes to their personnel, Luphahla is trusting his new charges to deliver.
“The players that we brought here, we are happy because we wanted them to be here. Sometimes it is so hard for new players to hit the ground running, but these guys have surprised us. We are hoping that what we have seen during preparations will work. I’m confident enough because I believe in these boys and they believe in themselves,” he added.
Online Reporter