FCP back in Champs League
FC PLATINUM have confirmed their participation in the next edition of the CAF Champions League, club president George Mawere has revealed.
CAF recently resolved to change the calendar for the Champions League and Confederation Cup matches to match the European calendar.
As from next year, the competitions will be starting in September, ending in May, but the next edition is starting in December this year and the final date for registration has been set for October 15.
The deadline comes too early for the local league, which still has 14 rounds of matches to play and can only declare a new champion at the end of the season which is set to be concluded in the last week of November.
Faced with the dilemma brought about by the CAF changes, the Premier Soccer league chiefs resolved to extend invitations to the two teams which last represented the country in the Champions League
FC Platinum won the league while Harare City claimed the Chibuku Super Cup before they were demoted into Division One.
The Sunshine Boys, however, benefited from the collapse of How Mine and were invited back into the top flight.
But FC Platinum, who are expected to flex their financial muscle, last night confirmed that they would be taking another crack at Africa’s biggest club knock-out competition.
“We play to win the championship and there is no reason not participate in the Champions league, we are definitely participating,” said Mawere.
“This year again we are playing to win the title and winning the Zimbabwean league means participation in the African Safari, the only difference is that this time we will be going earlier than expected.
“Funding such a competition is always herculean, but we will do a lot of fundraising projects so that the team will be able to participate in the next edition of the competition.
“Our hope is to have frequent participation in the African Safari and when we qualify to take part we cannot say no,” said Mawere.
Last year, Harare City refused to participate in Africa’s second tier cup competition following their demotion to the unfashionable second tier league.
But FC Platinum took part, albeit their flirtation ending at the first hurdle after being knocked out by Primero Agosto of Angola.
While FC Platinum have confirmed their participation, Harare City are still to make public their decision on a ticket to the Confederation Cup.