Despite the club having recently signed some tried and tested players, Chaka said this would not veer them off the track of discovering and nurturing new talent.
“We don’t want to buy many prominent names because we are on a mission to promote new players,” he said. “We don’t want a situation whereby we recycle many of those so-called big players who have already been there. We will focus mainly on recruiting talented juniors from the lower divisions and junior leagues.”
Chaka also revealed that the club had retained almost all the players who got them promoted to the Premiership, as they bid to last longer in the topflight league.
“We are content with the crop of young players that got us into top-flight football. We have added few new experienced players to beef up the squad, but we still believe that the guys who brought us to the top must also reap the rewards of their good work,” he said.
The club’s old guard includes goalkeeper Nonjabulo Dube, Steven Chirwa, Nero Nhatikombo, Watch Mafa, Chris Biki, Donald Chiringa, Leo Rambai, Collin Mbewe, Samuel Nasitala, Dumiso Dungeni and Maxwell Hundi.
Recycled players include former Highlanders stars, Brighton Choto, Gilbert Banda, Thabani Moyo, Brighton Dube and Hebert Dick. Former FC Platinum midfielder, Ntokozo Tshuma, former Hwange players, Simon Njeleza and Ocean Mpofu are some of the players who have seen it in the PSL.
Philani Mabhena, an experienced coach who was recently appointed to take charge of the gold miners’ technical department, expressed optimism that they had enough staying power after their transfer market activities.
“We could be behind most teams in terms of preparations, but I still believe we are capable of coming up with a team that will successfully compete,” said Mabhena.
Post published in: Football