Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions FC Platinum have set a target of getting into the Caf Champions League group stages and will soon invade the market to beef up their arsenal for the gruesome journey.
The Zvishavane based side won the right to represent the country in the continental club competition after ending the season on pole position with 72 points, two points ahead of Harare giants Dynamos and in the process became only the second team after St Paul’s Musami from outside Harare and Bulawayo to lift the national football title in 51 years.
Club chairman Evans Mthombeni said they were eager to leave a mark and represent the country well against other champions on the continent.
He said reaching the lucrative group stages of the tournament was top on their list of priority as they venture into the journey.
“The target now is to reach the group stage and take it from there,” said Mthombeni.
He said they will be beefing up their squad by strengthening some departments ahead of the start of the demanding campaign.
He however, said they were yet to sit down with their history making coach Norman Mapeza who will advise them on the players that he would want to come on board.
The Midlanders would be venturing into the African jungles for the second time in their history, having made their maiden appearance in 2012 in which they did not do so well and they will obviously be eager to surpass their 2012 feat this time around.
The mazy run by former champions Caps United who shocked all and sundry by qualifying for the group stages this season in which they dumped crack Democratic Republic of Congo outfit TP Mazembe, will serve as an assurance to FC Platinum that they too can do it.
@skhumoyo2000
Online Reporter