AFTER a two-week break, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side FC Platinum will face Democratic Republic of Congo and former African giants TP Mazembe in an international friendly match in Lubumbashi on Sunday.
BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
FC Platinum are scheduled to fly out early this morning with coach Norman Mapeza taking a 20-member squad ahead of the resumption of the local league next week.
Wisdom Mutasa and Marshall Mudehwe are not part of the team as they are with the Warriors who are preparing to face Comoros in a Chan qualifier at Rufaro Stadium in Harare on Sunday.
FC Platinum and TP Mazembe’s relationship goes back to two years ago after the Zimbabwe side sold striker Ali Sadiki to the Lubumbashi giants.
The club’s media liaison officer Chido Chizondo said the friendly match in the diamond-rich country would aid in their own development.
“TP Mazembe is one of the biggest clubs in Africa and playing against them prepares us for big challenges on the continent,” she said.
“We want our players to get used to playing against big teams and top players so that it improves their game as well as exposure.
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“We want to get to the same level as those top clubs on the continent and the only way to do that is to play against them and to improve our game as well. We utilised the league break so that we maintain our shape ahead of the league’s resumption.” FC Platinum represented Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup this year, but fell out in the second round to Young Africans of Kenya.
FC Platinum Squad
Petros Mhari, Daniel Vheremu, Simon Shoko, Raphael Mudhuviwa, Tatenda Dzumbunu, Obrey Chirwa, Raymond Sibanda, Stephen Sibanda, Gift Bello, Ian Nekati, Nigel Papias, Brian Muzondiwa, Francis Tizayi, Kevin Moyo, Allen Gahadzikwa, Wellington Kamudyariwa, Winston Mhango, Tarisai Rukanda, Donald Ngoma, Aaron Katebe
