For Ngezi Platinum, it feels like now is the time

Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter

NGEZI Platinum Stars have tried to capture the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title over the past six seasons without success.

They have chopped and changed coaches for over eight times but the outcome hasn’t changed.

But the determination has been evident and the consistency beyond doubt.

While they have shown some encouraging glimpses over the years, they seem to be heading towards the right direction this season.

The Mhondoro team are currently topping the log after 12 matches although the gap between them and their pursuers is delicately slim.

Their youthful coach Takesure Chiragwi has employed a unique philosophy at the platinum miners who are showing a great deal of fluidity with the fusion of youth and experience.

And club president Takawira Maswiswi feels like this could be the time for Ngezi Platinum to finally clinch the title.

Speaking on the sidelines of a 47-seater, US$200 000 worth bus unveiling at Baobab Stadium on Saturday, Maswiswi said his executive is realistic about what the club can do but feels the time has come for them to conquer.

The 2023 kit was also unveiled at the same function.

“We are a very ambitious club. We have stated that previously and we need to compete at the highest level.

“Of course, we are also realistic in terms of the journey that we must travel before we get there,” said Maswiswi.

“As much as we would like to win the titles, we should also be alive to the fact that it’s a process hence our effort to create the right environment for the players.

“We would like to see the team continue to focus on their game, they should play as a solid unit and those are the ingredients to ensure success for the team”.

He saluted the team’s commercial arm, Glenrise for helping in the resourcing of the club.

“When we embarked on this journey in 2016, we made it clear that we would like to see the club performing at the highest level not just in Zimbabwe but internationally.

“So the environment in which we operate should be conducive for our players to attain our targets,” said Maswiswi.

“We are talking about resourcing our team properly and we have seen that the way they travel should also be good and comfortable.

“If we are to perform at the highest level in Africa, branding of the team is very important and having this bus is part of the long process that will enable us to attain our aims.

“We have a commercial arm called Glenrise which is central to the funding of the team.

“That has enabled us to create the right environment at the club”.

Maswiswi said Ngezi Platinum Stars will be anchored by players with the team’s DNA in the near future and the introduction of young players from the development side is part of the process.

“Our focus on junior development has been extremely successful. About five or six players have been promoted to the senior team and they are doing very well.

“If you look at the energy they bring into the team, you can see that the philosophy is working really well.

“They are ambitious and eager to play. Of course, we are fusing them with the senior players.

“We are looking at a situation whereby in two or three years’ time, we will have players in the Ngezi Platinum Stars system anchoring the team.

“They will become the backbone of the squad in the medium term”.