Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
FORMER champions FC Platinum have unveiled a three-year sponsorship deal, with the platinum miners vowing to wrestle back the Premier Soccer League title from Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The Platinum miners burst onto the Premier Soccer league scene in 2011 and three years later they bagged bronze after finishing third in 2014 behind champions Dynamos and runners up ZPC Kariba.
Two years later they would go one better as runners up to CAPS United before going all the way to win four successive titles matching giants Dynamos and Highlanders who are the only other clubs to win four league titles on the trot.
Despite being beaten to the title by Ngezi Platinum Stars last season, the Zvishavane-based side is ready to challenge for honours and rekindle their ‘African Dream’.
“We are in a better space now if you look at our squad we have a younger squad we have regenerated and the guys are hungry to go back to the top because we know the benefits of being on the top because we have been there,” said FC Platinum captain, Wallace Magalane.
The FC Platinum captain was speaking at the unveiling of sponsorship deal which will see the Zvishavane based side getting US$360 000 for the next three years from a local health insurance company.
The club is determined to create a platform for more corporate partners to join the country’s fourth most successful club.
“We are grateful for the sponsorship as players this pushes us to do well and we want to continue fighting so as be able to attract more sponsors,” said FC Platinum rookie, Beven Kaitano.
“We are happy to be partnering Alliance Health we believe we have set a good platform for them to find us appealing and we are going to continue working towards getting more corporate partners,” said Mimosa general manager, Stephen Ndiyamba.
For Alliance Health general manager, Brian Chirema, says the decision to partner the four time champions was simple.
“We have looked at history and the conduct of the club and we found them to be suitable to carry our brand as we know they are not going to put our name into disrepute,” he said.
The Platinum miners will receive US$120 000 annually for the next three years.
