FC Platinum step up Madhananga chase

FC PLATINUM have stepped up efforts to land defensive midfielder Edwin Madhanhanga from relegated Harare City after realising that their efforts to prize away Liberty Chakoroma from Ngezi Platinum hit a snag.

Chakoroma opted to stay on and complete the last year of his contract with Ngezi despite having agreed in principle to join FC Platinum and misled the Zviishavane miners into registering him for the Champions League.

After failing to lure Chakioroma, FC Platinum have turned their attention to Madhanhanga, who was a member of the Warriors 2016 CHAN squad in Rwanda.

With Harare City having been relegated to Division One, FC Platinum are likely going to find it much easier to secure Madhanhanga’s signature’s as some of the Sunshine Boys’ experienced players are understood to have asked to remain in the top-flight.

FC Platinum, who are on a threeweek training camp in Bulawayo, have until Monday to make some adjustments to their Champions League squad. The champions had initially registered a 28-man side that included Chakoroma before the deal to bring the former Buffaloes man fell through.

FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizondo could not reveal the identities of the payers they were looking to add or subtract from their Champions League squad.

“Like I said before we are still working on our squad, the final date for submission is the 15th and by that date we will have finalised our team for the Champions league.

“The technical department gave us a list of players they want and we are working on that, but that squad we sent can still be altered because there is a provision for that.

“I will not confirm nor deny the names that are being thrown around, but I can just say we are still working on our squad,” said Chizondo.

But there will be no room for Ghanaian forward Ibrahim Dauda, whom coach Norman Mapeza had given a second chance to impress.

Mapeza had earlier felt the West African was more of a midfielder and not the out and out striker he was looking for.

Chizondo confirmed that the Ghanaian was no longer in their plans and has since been allowed to go back to his motherland.

“Yes Ibrahim has left and will no longer be part of our Champions League squad. The coaches told us that he was a good player, but his position was oversubscribed and he was allowed to leave,” said Chizondo.

Meanwhile, Dynamos yesterday announced on their Facebook page that winger — Cleopas Kapupurika — who has been on loan at the Harare giants has agreed to stay for another spell. DeMbare also said they have signed the duo of Raphael Manuvire and William Manondo ahead of the start of their pre-season training scheduled for this Monday.

But Harare City also posted on their own Facebook page denying that they had cleared Manondo to switch bases and join DeMbare.

Dynamos have once again been lethargic in their player recruitment and may have to rely on trials as they did last year.