We won’t dump you, FC Platinum tell fans Streak hopeful of ODI series
ZIMBABWE’S Total Caf Champions League representatives FC Platinum have assured their Zvishavane supporters that they will not desert them during the continental jamboree like in 2012 when they took their act to Harare.
In 2012 when FC Platinum made their debut in the continental tournament, they played their second-leg first round encounter against Sudan’s El Merreikh at Rufaro Stadium after Caf officials allegedly condemned accommodation facilities in Zvishavane.
According to rules and regulations of the tournament, the host association is entitled to play its home match in the capital of the country or in any other city. In this case, the transport of the visiting team from the capital to the city designated for the match is borne by the host association.
If the distance between the capital city and the venue of the match is more than 200kms, the host association shall provide the visitors with air transport to the venue of the match and back. If this is not possible, the match shall be played in the capital city except by agreement between the two teams.
Following the 2017 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League kings’ decision to set up their preparatory base in Bulawayo on Monday, there have been genuine fears by their passionate fans in Zvishavane that they will not have an opportunity to cheer their heroes in the African safari once again.
However, the club has allayed those fears, with Chido Chizondo, the media liaison and communications officer, saying Mandava Stadium will be their match day venue.
“We are going to use Mandava Stadium. The club is only in Bulawayo to prepare for the journey, which is also good for bonding purposes,” said Chizondo.
FC Platinum face Angolan side Clube Desportivo Primeiro de Agosto in the preliminary round, with the first-leg away during the weekend of February 9-11 and the second-leg scheduled for the weekend of February 16-18. ZIMBABWE cricket coach Heath Streak is hopeful his side will rediscover their form when they get back into action next week in a triangular One Day International series in Bangladesh.
The series will feature the hosts and Sri Lanka.
The Chevrons will face Bangladesh in the first match on January 15, before they take on Sri Lanka two days later.
After playing Sri Lanka again on January 21, Zimbabwe will then have a day’s rest before dating Bangladesh for the second time. The final is scheduled for January 27. All the matches will be day-night games and will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka.
As the Chevrons prepared to leave Harare today, Streak is hoping his charges can rediscover the kind of form that saw them securing an historic ODI series win over Sri Lanka last July.
It was Zimbabwe’s first major overseas Oneday series victory since 2001.
“In terms of our expectations obviously having not played for a bit hopefully we can get into the swing of playing international cricket pretty quickly. And obviously we know we are highly competitive in the One Day format and I hope we can get back to how we played against Sri Lanka pretty quickly.
“It’s been six months since we played ODI cricket, so I am hoping the guys can get back into the form that we ended as quickly as possible.
“Our preparations there haven’t seen many games…. I would say there haven’t been any cricket matches being played. So we have been in camp just practising, last week and this week, probably we depart tomorrow (today),” said Streak.
Streak will be leading a squad of 15 players for the triangular series that includes regulars - captain Graeme Cremer, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Craig Ervine, Christopher Mpofu and Kyle Jarvis.