ZIMBABWE’s representatives in the Caf Confederations Cup FC Platinum will tonight honour their most outstanding players from the 2014 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season where they finished fourth and with a haul of four trophies.
MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
They won the Independence Trophy and the CG Msipa Charity under Lloyd Mutasa before Norman Mapeza took over and added the Commander ZNA Charities Shield and the Chibuku Super Cup which qualified them for Africa.
Players who excelled last season will be rewarded in different categories which include the player of the season, players player of the year, top goal scorer and player of each of the four above mentioned tournaments.
The club’s media liaison officer Chido Chizondo confirmed the awards ceremony set for tonight in the Midlands town.
“We are holding an awards ceremony in Zvishavane tomorrow night [tonight] to honour those players who have done well. We had a good campaign last season and it is just prudent that we honour our players,”Chizondo also said the club will host Chapungu football club in a friendly match set for Mandava Stadium this afternoon.
“We have scheduled a match against Chapungu as part of our ongoing preparations for the Confederations Cup. It is an open match and everyone is invited to come and watch for free; there will be no gate charges for this one. We want our supporters to come and see their team in action though it will just be a practice match,” said Chizondo.
The likes of goalkeeper Petros Mhari, soccer star of the year finalist Thabani Kamusoko, Zambian defender Aaron Katebe, Donald Ngoma, promising youngsters Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona, Obrey Chirwa, Tatenda Dzumbunu, and the Moyo twins Kelvin and Elvis will be among those fancying their chances of getting the prizes.
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The accolades are coming at an opportune time to boost the confidence levels of players as they are set to start their African Safari journey within the next three weeks.
They will travel to Kenya for an away first round date against Sofapaka with the match set for February 15 and the return leg being played two weeks later in Zvishavane. Pure Platinum Play will have a chance to assess some of their new signings in a game situation with the likes of Wellington Kamudyariwa, Brian Muzondiwa, Emmanuel Mandiranga and youth product Nigel Papias having joined the club in the current transfer window.
News from Kenya indicate that Sofapaka assistant coach David Ouma believes his team has the capability to reach the later stages of the competition.
“We have picked well. The players are coming in well with training and we have not seen any effect on their fitness level after the long holiday. We hope it stays this way until our first leg continental match,” Ouma told Goal.
Sofapaka have already acquired services of former Rwanda captain Mutuyimana Moussa, former Gor Mahia midfielder Kevin Omondi, Nakuru All Stars midfielder Erastus Mwaniki and former Chemelil Sugar defender Willis Ouma ahead of the 2015 campaign.
Mutuyimana is a naturalised Rwandan, who was born in Congo and whose real name is Fabrice Kasereka. He parted ways with Rwanda Police at the end of Rwandan national league three months ago.
