Former Warriors midfielder Edzai Kasinauyo has lauded FC Platinum’s football project as a venture that has the potential to last forever.
Kasinauyo who watched the explosive FC Platinum-Dynamos league encounter at Mandava Stadium on Sunday hailed the ambitious platinum miners for their football-mindedness.
“They have a good vision and are in the right direction. They are trying to do things the right way and really know what they want to achieve.
I spoke to the guys and they told me they have a five-year programme and so far, I think it is just a matter of time before they achieve what they want,” said Kasinauyo.
“The environment here immensely benefits the game. I admire people who want our football to grow. Players are well motivated and seem to be enjoying everything and they cannot ask for more. This is what we need in our game and they need to be supported.
“Theirs is a mission which has just started and it can be a permanent project. A lot of work needs to be done and so far you cannot take anything away from them. From what I have seen, I have realised more positives than negatives.”
Platinum arrived in top-flight football splashing money everywhere and speaking openly about their intentions to conquer local football, in the process drawing the envy of traditional giants as well as their town neighbours, Shabanie Mine.
The most vociferous of their doomsayers was Motor Action owner Eric Rosen who earlier this year dismissed Platinum’s mission as a fly-by-night project.
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Incensed by losing Charles Sibanda and Bhekimpilo Ncube to the Zvishavane side, Rosen likened the project to doomed ones once witnessed at the now-defunct Blackpool, Sporting Lions and AmaZulu.
Barely a year into the beginning of a five-year plan whose end is aimed at the completion of a five-star football empire, Platinum have already made big clubs like Dynamos sweat in the title race.
And their loss to DeMbare at Mandava Stadium on Sunday was grudgingly celebrated not only by the Harare giants, but by other clubs as well.
Platinum managed to create an electric atmosphere which was, however, dampened by the small Mandava Stadium which was overwhelmed by the huge crowed which turned out for the match.
“I last saw such an atmosphere during the days when I was still a player,” said Kasinauyo.
“You only have to be here to enjoy yourself like I am doing right now. It is a pity the stadium is small and has been overwhelmed by the occasion.”
Platinum have underlined their intentions for a permanent stay in local football by establishing a vibrant youth football scheme and extensively renovating Mandava Stadium.
Kasinauyo praised Platinum for looking at youth football at a time where a blind eye has been turned against it in the country.
“It is a sad story that junior football is being ignored in this country. It is a pity that things are coming from the top going down instead of the opposite where football begins at grassroots level.
We need to do much more about it because right now there is very little on the ground. It makes everything hard.”
The platinum miners have adopted Guinea Fowl in Gweru as their school of excellence where school boys are coached by highly-qualified and experienced coaches while enjoying top-class facilities.
