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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
AMBITIOUS Zvishavane-based Premier Soccer League side FC Platinum is closing in on the Bulawayo Chiefs’ trio of winger Ishmael Wadi, goalkeeper Wallace Magalane and defender Last Sithole as they beef up to challenge for the title in 2016.
The Zvishavane side is in the process of reinforcing its squad in preparation for the 2016 season and coach Norman Mapeza seems to have again placed his faith in youngsters as Wadi and Magalane are both 22 years old, while Sithole just turned 24.
The platinum miners lost their second place on the league table on the final day of the season when they stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Dongo Sawmill, resulting in Dynamos overtaking them.
According to Chiefs’ owner Lovemore Sibanda, negotiations with FC Platinum are at an advanced level, with the deal set to be concluded after the players’ medical examinations.
“We will lose between five and eight players that formed the core of our squad to PSL clubs. Bulawayo City wrote to us requesting for the services of Wadi, Magalane, Sithole and Proud Zireni, but what they had tabled wasn’t pleasing at all,” said Sibanda.
“As a club, we believe in doing business with people who value players’ welfare and that’s why we opened negotiations with FC Platinum. Three of our boys should be going for medicals next week and if they are successful, they will be on their way to Zvishavane,” he said.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Mapeza and FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizvondo were unsuccessful as calls were not going through to their numbers.
Wadi, who almost joined Highlanders during the 2015 mid-season transfer window only for the deal to fall through at the eleventh hour, had also attracted the interests of new league champions Chicken Inn.
His ability to eliminate defenders and outpace them on his charge towards goal as well as creating scoring chances for his teammates makes him a perfect candidate for FC Platinum, who thrive on quick breaks.
Wadi will provide another dimension and create competition at FC Platinum where he will fight for a starting place with speedster Marshal Mudewe and Emmanuel Mandiranga.
Magalane, a former Bantu Rovers goalkeeper also had a superb season, keeping Chiefs in the title run through his superb goalkeeping.
The young goalie’s prowess won him admiration from a number of clubs, including Bulawayo City, How Mine and Highlanders.
Sithole stood firm in defence and is also on How Mine’s radar.
Sibanda allayed fears that losing a number of their leading players would weaken their campaign for the 2016 campaign in the Southern Region League.
“We’ve got a number of equally good players, and besides, we can’t stop our players from moving so that they develop. The fact that our players are attracting interests from PSL clubs shows that we are doing well in terms of identifying and developing talent. The coach has already identified players we are going to use for next season and we will stick to our development policy,” said Sibanda.
Coach Thulani Sibanda, who won the Southern Region League title twice in 2011 with Quelaton and in 2014 with Chiefs, is heading the Bulawayo side’s rebuilding exercise.
Online Reporter