FC Platinum offload eight players
AFTER missing the chance to retain the Premier Soccer League title and set a new domestic football record, former champions FC Platinum have begun the process of renewal by letting go mostly the ageing players ahead of the 2024 season.
The platinum miners, who started their pre-season training programme yesterday, have released more than half dozen senior players and will be announcing replacements in the coming days.
The affected players include captain Petros Mhari, Innocent Mucheneka, Perfect Chikwende, former Soccer Star Walter Musona, Raphael Muduviwa, Nomore Chinyerere, Gift Mbweti and Gift Bello who at 39 years is now heading into retirement after serving the platinum miners for close to a decade.
Bello joined FC Platinum in February 2014 from Dynamos and he played over 300 matches for the former PSL champions.
The platinum miners’ spokesperson Chido Chizondo yesterday said the club was clear on the pre-season player movements which they believe do not constitute re-building.
“We are not rebuilding. It’s just that the coach has indicated he wants fresh legs and so there was no renewal of contracts that ended in December,” said Chizondo.
Most of the players on the move had their contracts expiring in December and were not renewed. But most of the key players who included.
FC Platinum have retained some of their key players from the previous season, the likes of Brian Banda, Jean Mutudza, Jarrison Selemani, Rainsome Pavari, Lawrence Mhlanga, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, Panashe Mutimbanyoka, Kelvin Mangiza and Hagiazo Magaya.
The Zvishavane side dominated the last few years and were undisputed kings of domestic football after winning four straight league titles from 2017 and as many Castle Challenge Cup titles.
But their reign after the remarkable four-peat that equalled records by giants Dynamos and Highlanders, was halted last season by fellow platinum-backed side Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Norman Mapeza and his men finished fourth in the marathon and were 11 points off the pace at the conclusion of the campaign.
That FC Platinum ended the 2023 season empty-handed must not have gone down well with the Zvishavane side leading to club president Fabian Mashingaidze and chairperson Smartfin Techu stepping down from their positions.
The club has since announced the arrival of Blessing Garamunhango as the new club president while Dumisani Sisale becomes the new chairman.
And, as the team prepared to regroup
for the pre-season, the club announced on their social media the departure of eight players, most of whom were out of contract following the expiry of their deals.
The 2022 Soccer Star Musona and pacy winger Chikwende have since been unveiled at ambitious Shamva-based side Simba Bhora, among the 10 new signings made by coach Tonderai Ndiraya.
Muduviwa, who spent the last six months of his contract on loan to Bulawayo Chiefs had reverted to being an FC Platinum player but the club decided against renewing his contract.
The defender was the longest serving player at FC Platinum, winning four league titles and several other silverware that included five Castle Challenge Cup, the Chibuku Super Cup, three Independence Trophies, the ZNA Charity Shield and the Bob 88.
“Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when we’re bidding farewell to a true legend of our club. We’ve shared countless highs and lows at our beloved stadium, and we’ll forever cherish those memories. Thank you for your unwavering loyalty and fighting spirit,” said the platinum miners in a statement.