FC PLATINUM will only register players that have completed their moves to the club for the 12th edition of the Orange Caf Confederation Cup, the club has said. Today is the deadline of registering players for the competition and Pure Platinum Play are expected to finalise their squad my midday before submitting it to Caf via local association Zifa.
MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The miners will be making a second appearance in the continental club competition after reaching the second round in the Champions League in 2012.
They are the country’s sole representative after Dynamos pulled out of the Champions League. Platinum have been drawn against Kenyan side Sofapaka in the preliminary round with the first leg set for Nairobi on Friday February 13 before the return leg at Mandava on the weekend of February 27/28.
The club’s media liaison officer Chido Chizondo said although the club has not been busy in the transfer market they will only register players who are contracted to the club by the time of handing in their final list.
“We will not register players we have not yet signed. We will only register our players not those we wish to sign.
“If we add any other players to the squad after tomorrow’s (today’s) deadline they will not be eligible to play in the competition,” said Chizondo. She however, refused to divulge the names of the players that on the list, although it is known that Mitchelle Katsvairo, Benjamin Marere and Talbert Shumba have been released.
“We have completed some deals that is retaining most of our players from last season and releasing others.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“They will of course be new comers; we are still negotiating with other players to join us. We will release the names of the players we are registering for the competition once we have finalised,” she said.
The Zvishavane based side, coached by former Warriors boss Norman Mapeza, is reported to have captured the services of Brian Muzondiwa from relegated Black Rhinos with How Mine impressive youngster Emmanuel Mandiranga expected to complete his move before today’s deadline.
Tendai Samanja was one of their top targets but opted for Harare City, who are rebuilding under Taurai Mangwiro.
Meanwhile, Sofapaka of Kenya, FC Platinum’s opponent in the preliminary round of the competition has bolstered every department of their squad ahead of the competition.
They have already brought in a defender Willis Ouma, midfielder Kevin Omondi and a striker Erastus Mwaniki.
Sofapaka president Elly Kalekwa is quoted in the Kenyan media saying though they have brought in three players their transfer business is not yet complete as they are still negotiating with two players a defender and a midfielder.
In the just ended 2014 season the East African side’s defence has not been that solid conceding 27 times in 30 matches, and their strikers have not been that ruthless either, the clubs leading goal scorer Enock Agwanda has netted only 11 league goals.
The Kenyan side finished runners up in their league three points behind champions Gor Mahia and won the Nile Basin Cup guaranteeing their participation in the confederations cup.
