FC Platinum, Bosso clash in friendly

Sport
FORMER FC Platinum players Joel “Josta” Ngodzo, Charles Sibanda and Welcome Ndiweni face their former paymasters when Highlanders take on the platinum miners.

FORMER FC Platinum players Joel “Josta” Ngodzo, Charles Sibanda and Welcome Ndiweni face their former paymasters when Highlanders take on the platinum miners in a pre-season friendly at Barbourfields this afternoon.

Sukoluhle Mthethwa

Sibanda, Ngodzo and Ndiweni donned the green and white kit in Zvishavane last season but have moved to the Bulawayo giants while Highlanders top goalscorer for last season, Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, moved the other direction.

Both teams have been busy in the transfer window period with Bosso capturing goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni, Valentine Ndaba, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Mkhululi Dube and Felix Chindungwe.

Canadian duo of striker Phillippe Barriault and goalkeeper Jean-Felix Lemieux have also been trying their luck at Highlanders.

Most of Bosso players have a chance of playing today as the former champions will first play Zifa Southern Region Division One side Blackboots before they meet FC Platinum.

FC Platinum have signed Tarisai Rukanda from Shabanie Mine and Stephen Sibanda from Buffaloes, as well as Walter Musona and Wisdom Mutasa.

They also promoted Under-19 and Guinea Fowl Academy’s Tatenda Dzumbunu, Livingstone Genti and Godfrey Chisango from junior teams while James Marufu from DC Academy is now at FC Platinum.

Interestingly, Ncube has been on fire, scoring in almost every friendly match for FC Platinum.

He scored in the 1-0 win against ZPC Kariba and in the 1-1 draw with Bantu Rovers at Mandava.

Ncube was also on target when FC Platinum played Chapungu and won 2-1. He further registered his name on the score sheet when the Zvishavane side played Triangle as he grabbed the solitary goal in Mandava and also scored one of the goals in the 4-0 hammering of Chiredzi United in a practice match during the week.

Highlanders assistant coach Mark Mathe, who will be in charge of today’s match in the absence of head coach Kelvin Kaindu who is in the United Kingdom for the Uefa B licence course, said they were ready for the matches.

“We will take both matches very seriously. They are very important because they will give us a chance to see most of the players in action.

“The matches are very important because they will make us see the general fitness levels of the whole team as well because we are still trying new combinations. New players need to adjust to the set-up at Highlanders and gel,” he said.

FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa said they are well-prepared for today’s clash.

“It is going to be a tightly contested match because we are building a team for now and into the future. It will be interesting because Bosso is one of the best teams in the country at the moment, so playing them will give a different dimension to our team and make us see how prepared we are for the season.

“It will also help us realise our potential and our weaknesses. We are still trying out new combinations and we are happy that the team has been getting positive results regardless of who played in the friendly matches we have played,” he said.

Related Topics