FC Platinum suffer blow
FC PLATINUM have been dealt a body blow in their quest to score their first goal in the Caf Champions League group stage, with striker Albert Eonde ruled out of their tie against Orlando Pirates on Friday.
The Cameroonian will not feature for the second time in a row after a bid to secure him a visa failed. Eonde required a visa to travel to South Africa, which had to be obtained before he travelled, but FC Platinum’s frantic efforts to secure him one were unsuccessful yesterday and they were left with no choice but to leave him in Harare.
FC Platinum media liaison officer Chido Chizondo explained how they had started the process to secure a visa for Eonde, but failed.
“That was very unfortunate; we have been made to understand that North Africa and West African countries are required to apply for their visas seven days prior to travelling, which involves them going for an interview. It’s a very long process so we did not manage to meet the deadline for that particular process to bring Eonde to South Africa,” said Chizondo.
She also disclosed that they faced a minor challenge with Eonde when FC Platinum travelled to Guinea to play against Horoya last month, but the situation was attended to.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza had been hopeful that Eonde would make the trip to South Africa, but now has to change his plans.
Since Gift Mbweti and Charles Sibanda are not part of the squad which travelled, Mapeza’s frontline looks thin. The coach now has to look to the likes of veteran striker, Mkhokheli Dube, Thomas Chideu and Ali Sadiki.
FC Platinum have not scored in the four Champions League group stage fixtures so far, while their defence has been breached five times.
While the 20-year-old Eonde has not scored, he has displayed the forcefulness needed upfront.
“I think we have had a warm reception from the team from Orlando. We are at Garden Court Hotel, which is very comfortable. It’s raining, we didn’t expect the rains, but in African culture it means there are only good things ahead,” Chizondo said.
FC Platinum had a training session under floodlights at the Greek Sports Club, just a stone’s throw away from their hotel. They will get a feel of Friday’s match venue, Orlando Stadium in Soweto, tomorrow (Thursday) evening, the night before they clash with the 1995 African Champions. IN a move aimed at encouraging local athletes to up their game, cash rewards will be offered to the winners of this year’s CBZ Peter Gradwell Marathon.
The race will be held later this month at Old Georgians Sports Club in Harare.
According to the main sponsors of this road running event, winners will walk away with a combined total prize money of $27 800.
This will make it one of the richest athletics competitions in this country.
The winners of both the men’s and women’s races will get the same prize money.
The marathon, which was initially scheduled for the second week of January this year, will now take place on March 17 at Old Georgians Sports Club.
More than 1 000 participants are expected to grace the event.
CBZ Holdings marketing manager, Joel Gombera, confirmed that cash rewards were up for grabs at this event.
“The event is huge and important, especially to the seasoned athletes who are eyeing to qualify for this year’s Old Mutual Two Oceans and the Comrades Marathon in South Africa.
“We are targeting around 1 000 participants and so far we have already registered 400 participants and we believe that by the end of this week the event will be fully booked.
“The registration is centralised at Old Georgians Sports Club and we urge all those who are in other provinces to make arrangements to register in time to avoid any inconveniences. “There will be a lot of prizes,” said Gombera. The male and female winners of the 42.2km main event will each pocket $2 000 with the first runners-up getting $1 500 and the bronze medallists getting $750.
The main 42.2km event will be held simultaneously with a half-marathon where the winners will walk away with $1 000 with the first runners-up getting $750 and the bronze winners pocketing $500.
The marathon will, for the first time, include wheelchair athletes in all categories that will see the winner getting $1 000 and the first runners-up $750 and second runners-up $500 for both male and female competitors.
he said.
A well-wisher came to Ajax Hotspurs’ rescue by paying $1 480 in outstanding dues to the Zifa Bulawayo Province owed by the Mpopomabased side.
Ajax stormed into the Southern Region Division One League following an unbeaten run in the Second Division in which they won 20 games and drew 10. — @DecoDecent2