The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
JUST days after FC Platinum were knocked out of the CAF Champions League, the Zimbabwe soccer kings troop back into camp tomorrow and shift their focus to their domestic Premiership duties.
The Premiership is expected to roll into action next month.
New FC Platinum coach Pieter De Jongh has revealed plans of claiming a fourth consecutive Premiership title.
“The first focus is on the league, we are the champions and we are an ambitious club. We need to defend the title. However, saying that l would want to win it for three more times would be a bit too ambitious. But it can be done.
“We want to succeed this coming season and defend the title, winning it for the fourth time is not going to be easy.
“The league title has become competitive, you look at teams like Chicken Inn, Ngezi Platinum Stars, CAPS United, Dynamos and Highlanders. These are all good teams.
“I believe in the quality of the team, the technical team and my quality as a coach.
“I have succeeded in every country that I have coached. I am not scared of any challenge, l will go for it, my eyes are on the title,” said De Jong.
The Dutchman, who has been in charge of the miners for less than two months, praised the clubs’ professionalism, highlighting that the set-up was conducive for winning titles.
“I started work on January 1. FC Platinum is a very professional and very organised club. With such an environment, it is easier for one to do his job.”
With the three-time champions having already brought in eight players during the transfer window, De Jongh said he needed to add at least three more to bolster his squad.
“I have to make my own decisions and instil discipline within the squad. I am happy with the squad but we have to add two or three players before the season starts,” said the Dutchman.
Having struggled in the group stages in the last two editions of the Champions League, in which they managed just three points from a possible 36, De Jongh wants FC Platinum to make a mark in Africa.
“For now, our focus is on the league. We have to improve and qualify for the knockout stages. We are ready for it.
In their debut season, FC Platinum were knocked out of the tournament in the preliminary rounds, before qualifying for the group stages in the last two editions of the tournament.
Club spokesperson Chido Chizondo said although they had not performed very well in Africa, FC Platinum have used some of the experience gained to assert their dominance on the domestic front.
“lndeed, this has bolstered the brand and has allowed us to be closer to the vision of becoming a leading brand in Africa. However, we have not managed to do very well in the group stages.
“What has been a clear benefit is the fact that it has improved our competitiveness on the local and regional front. Our technical team and players have also amassed confidence through each outing. We believe this puts us in a better position to improve during the next campaign,” said Chizondo.
