adminZvishavane side parted ways with Rahman Gumbo last year.
Assistant coach Tendai Chikuni has been holding fort on an interim basis.
Chilumba becomes the third FC Platinum coach in three seasons and arrived in Zvishavane on Wednesday and penned a new deal.
The deal is subject to Chilumba, who has also coached Hwange, getting a work permit.
George Mawere, the new FC Platinum president, confirmed the appointment in a Press statement yesterday.
“We have appointed Mr Chilumba for the season beginning January 2013 and he will join the club once he has finalised his work permit modalities,” said Mawere.
The Zambian mentor joined Hwange in 2010 and had a memorable season the following year when he won the Coach of the Year Award.
He had guided the coalminers to fourth position in the championship race, which gave them a ticket into the Confederations Cup the following season.
Chilumba has held previous posts as Zambian Under-20 coach and was part of the technical set-up of their 2012 Afcon winning team
He is highly rated in his home country.
“He will be assisted by current caretaker coach, Chikuni, who took over the hot seat after Rahman Gumbo,” said Mawere.
“Jairos Tapera will complete the technical team as he continues in his role as the head of football development at the Premiership outfit.”
Chilumba, who seemed overjoyed by the appointment, was busy phoning some Hwange players on Thursday soon after penning the new deal.
He is reported to be trying to lure Rodwell Chinyengetere to Zvishavane but the talented midfielder has refused to talk to him over the issue.
Relations between the two appear to have broken down after the player felt that his coach did not give him due attention when he was in hospital at the Avenues Clinic.
Chilumba is reported to have visited his star forward only once in hospital.
It is still to be established if Peter Nkomo will retain his position as the goalkeepers’ coach.
Former Shabanie Mine coach, John Phiri, and Philani Mabhena’s contracts are yet to be renewed.
Patrick Mandizha’s position at the club is also yet to be resolved.
Chikuni was seconded to Platinum Stars just after the end of last season and spent two weeks in South Africa on attachment.
Chikuni was the first coach to bring silverware to the FC Platinum locker when he beat Hwange, who were under the guidance of Chilumba, in the Bob ‘88 Super Cup final last season. Gumbo was away with the Warriors.
The appointment of Chilumba is, however, a major blow to Luke “Vahombe” Masomere who was earmarked to take over the hot seat.
The Shabanie Mine coach guided his team to a Top Five finish and was reported to have agreed terms with FC Platinum depending on the outcome of his appeal against a ban from Zifa for two years for his alleged involvement in the Asiagate scam.
Former Warriors mentor Norman Mapeaza was also a wanted man in Zvishavane but it seems his six-month ban by Zifa, despite having been cleared by the Justice Ebrahim committee of any wrongdoing, cost him the job.
FC Platinum confirmed the appointment of a new executive on Wednesday, as reported by The Herald yesterday, in which they dropped Phillimon Muvengwa, vice-chairman Lovette Wadawareva, among others others, from influential roles.
Former chairman Thadson Zhou, who was earmarked for the vice-president position, was named head of the Advisory committee together with Wadawareva and Elton Nyoka.
This will certainly ensure that he retains his post as the PSL board member in charge of finance.
Muvengwa joins the committee that will oversee the commercial activities of the club.
His exact position was not stated in the press release.
Dumisani Sisale, a stores manager at the company, is the new FC Platinum chairman while Benson Wirimai, who was the protocol officer, comes in as secretary-general and club spokesman.
Sisale has vast football experience as he used to be part of the management team at Sabi Football Club.
He used to be a big Highlanders’ fan in the past although that could change given his new role.
Petros Ngorima will now take care of the club’s finances as treasurer, replacing Elton Nyoka, who has been thrown into the advisory committee.
Smartfin Techu is the new protocol officer while Lloyd Shirichena survives the changes by clinging on to his old post as committee member.
Online Reporter