Ngezi’s Madhake aims higher
GARETH Madhake believes Ngezi Platinum Stars have what it takes to remain a dominant force in the local football circuit.
The Mhondoro team won the league title for the first time last season and they will be representing the country in the CAF Champions League this year.
They have added three new players to their unit, bringing in Never Tigere, Richard Hachiro, and Talent Chamboko as they aim to stay competitive ahead of the 2024 season.
Madhake was one of the most outstanding players for the platinum miners in only his first season with the Takesure Chiragwi team having joined from Black Rhinos.
The 24-year-old had the most appearances in the league, playing 33 out of the 34 games in the marathon, missing out on the away fixture against Sheasham only because he developed a stomach bug just before kick-off.
Deploying on the right side of defence in Chiragwi’s preferred 3-5-2 formation, Madhake was deservedly named the team’s Find of the Season after impressing all season.
The hard-working defender, who recorded six assists in the league, was however unfortunate to miss out on the Soccer Stars of the Year calendar.
His preoccupation this season is to help the team retain the championship but he is also keen to pick individual accolades.
“I have done a lot of self-introspection and with the help of our analysts like Tonderai Vera, I have picked out a lot of my flaws as a defender.
“I am working to rectify those problems as we get ready for the 2024 season. The priority is to do everything to help my team win accolades. We have what it takes and we should just believe in ourselves as we did last year,” said Madhake.
“But I also know that it is very important to win individual awards as a player. It comes with a lot of prestige and the decorations can help in terms of self-confidence.
“As a player, I also know that representing the national team is one such good thing. So I am aiming very high in terms of my individual growth as a player.
“I think I have somewhere to start and the aim for this year is to be able to correct my mistakes and polish up on my flaws.
“I am putting in extra hours to my training schedule with coach Chiragwi also helping me a lot.
“The data that I have been given by our team of analysts is also helping me a lot. I hope to make more strides than what I took last year.
“I am a defender of course but I need to also venture forward and get some goals for the team. So those are some of the things I am working on to improve myself.”
Madhake formed a formidable threeman defence that also had Polite Moyo and Kudzai Chigwida last season.
And he believes the team can pick it up from where they left last year going into the new term.
“We have most of the guys who were around last year. The new guys are also fitting in well and we have every reason to be confident going into the new season.
“We have to start from where we ended last year, competing as a team and getting results,” he said.
“The spirit being displayed by the boys is encouraging and you can tell by the way everyone is carrying himself in the field that the team is eager to go.”
Ngezi Platinum Stars are understood to be in the process of loaning out Tapiwa Sibanda, Valentine Kadonzvo, and Tapiwa Mandinyenya while Delic Murimba has renewed his stay with the Mhondoro team.