FC Platinum in tough pre-season programme
PREMIERSHIP kings FC Platinum have lined up an intense pre-season training programme that will include a three-week camp in Bulawayo as they brace for their return to the Champions League stage.
After taking a month-long break, the platinum miners are expected back in Zvishavane on Monday and they will depart the Midlands town for Bulawayo the following day for a three-week pre-season training programme.
During their stay in Bulawayo, FC Platinum are looking at playing a number of friendly matches.
FC Platinum have reportedly invited some teams that will be involved in continental football for some sparring contests.
Indications are that FC Platinum could play clubs from Zambia as they build up to their challenge for a place in the Champions League group stage.
The platinum miners will play Clube Desportivo de Agosto of Angola in the preliminary round with the first leg scheduled for the weekend of February 9-11 away.
Should the miners progress beyond the preliminary stage, they will face either South African side Bidvest Wits or perennial campaigners Mauritius champions Pamplemousses.
Club spokesperson Chido Chizondo said they are still negotiating with potential opponents for the friendly matches they are looking at having.
“Everyone is expected to report for duty on Monday the 8th and on the 9th. We are leaving for Bulawayo where we will be based for three weeks for our pre-season training camp.
“During that time the team will be playing some friendly matches with other clubs.
“We are talking to a number of teams both foreign and local clubs, but they are all yet to confirm, but we are hopeful to play against a foreign club during our pre-season,” said Chizondo.
FC Platinum assistant Coach Lizwe Sweswe believes the players will be ready by the time they travel to Angola.
Sweswe, however, noted they would have to work harder in a short space of time.
“It is a crash programme. The team must be ready in a short space of time considering that we are only four weeks away from playing our first match in the Champions League.
“We gave players a programme to follow during the off-season break so that they remain in good physical condition. So when they come back we will be concentrating on the technical aspect of the game and also incorporate new players to our system.
“We will also play some friendly matches hopefully we will play against good opposition that can even beat us so that we correct on our shortcomings,’’ Sweswe said. FC Platinum have signed a number of new faces including two foreign strikers in their bid to put together a competitive outfit.
Sweswe said they were also keeping another eye open to the need to defend their Premiership crown.
“Our league starts after the champions had already started which is a disadvantage, but such has been the trend and we just have to set our programme with that in mind.
“Despite the timeframe we are confident that by the time we play our first game in the Champions League we will be ready for competition,” said Sweswe.
Coach Norman Mapeza and his lieutenants will be hoping the new arrivals at the club will quickly gel into their playing system before the travel to Angola.
The Zimbabwean champions submitted a 28-man squad to CAF for the tournament which Mapeza believes has the capacity to secure their target of a Champions’ League group stage appearance.
It will be only their second dance with the Champions League, having previously participated in the 2012 edition in which they were eliminated in the first round stage by Sudanese giants El Merreikh.