BY HENRY MHARA
NGEZI Platinum Stars have embarked on project to build a players’ village at their Mhondoro-Ngezi base as they continue to model the club to international standards.
A village usually caters for players’ accommodation, gym equipment, pools, training grounds, offices, data analyst rooms, silverware and even a merchandise store.
Club president Stanley Segula told players on Tuesday during a player and kit presentation ceremony that his executive has already sourced funds to construct the facility as well as refurbish their home ground Baobab Stadium.
“It might not be a world standard structure, but we are looking at building a good standard village,” Segula said.
“We want to copy the best. We know what the best in football is and that is what we want to emulate.
“No local club in the country has a players’ village, let alone proper training facilities.
“We want to set the trend in Zimbabwe. If the other teams elsewhere can do it, then we can also do it here. We might not be able to do everything that they are doing, but we want to try and we will eventually be at that level. When people talk about Zimbabwean football, we want the first name out of the hat to be Ngezi Platinum Stars.”
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Ngezi Platinum Stars boast one of the modern stadiums in the country with well-furnished dressing rooms, doping control and first-aid rooms.
Segula said they are planning to renovate the facility to host international matches.
“We are also proud of our stadium, but I can tell you that we have sourced funds to extend the infrastructure. We want to erect the grandstands for fans. We want this stadium to be in a position where it can be homologated by Caf (Confederation of African Football). That is our vision. We are very clear on the journey we want to travel and I’m sure we are not going to fail.”
“We want to develop you guys (players) to a level where you become a global product in terms of football,” he said, adding that the club would not stand in the way of players who seek greener pastures.
Ngezi Platinum’s best export since they were promoted into the Premier Soccer League in 2015 remains Terrence Dzvukamanja who initially moved to Bidvest University before moving to Orlando Pirates in South Africa last year.
The team’s head coach Rodwell Dhlakama said he was grateful for the huge investment that was made by the club, and has promised to repay by winning trophies.
On Tuesday, the club unveiled former Dynamos and Black Rhinos midfielder Marvelous Mukumba and are looking at adding three more players and Dynamos winger Valentine Kadonzvo is part of their wish list.
“Naturally, if you want to win silverware, you have to get the best squad available. We have done that because we have very good and experienced players,” Dhlakama said.
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