Ngodzo faces the axe at FC Platinum

PREMIER Soccer League side FC Platinum have transfer-listed eight senior players include former captain Zephaniah Ngodzo, NewsDay Sport reported.

The revelations comes only two weeks after the platinum miners paid Asiagate fines for seven of their nine players who were implicated in the scandal that rocked Zimbabwean football after players, officials and administrators aided in throwing matches in Asian countries.

The eight include former captain Zephaniah Ngodzo and Benjamin Marere, whose Asiagate fine was paid by the club two weeks ago with the idea of retaining his services for the new season, reliable sources said yesterday.

Other players who have been shown the exit include veteran defensive stalwart Norman Togara, who scooped the Platinum's president award last week when the club held its end of 2012 awards ceremony.

Cabby Kamhapa, Thandazani Ndlovu, Hardlife Mavundi, Rowen Nenzou and Tsungi Mudzamiri are other players who have been transfer-listed.

"I can confirm that the new executive has decided to part ways with these players. Benjamin Marere's contract ran out and the outgoing executive had assured him that they were going to retain his services for the 2013 season, but the new brooms have thought otherwise. Also, Tsungi Mudzamiri's contract had run out. Of all the players, Marere and Mudzamiri are the only ones whose contracts had expired," said the source.

"All the other six players still have running contracts. For example, Togara and Ngodzo had three-year contracts of which they had played two years and still have a year to go. I do not know what they are going to do with that then, but I am sure they are going to buy these players out of their contracts. I am sure it's going to be costly because people like Zephaniah are among the best paid players at the club."

But the decision to part ways with Marere, the source said, had not gone down well with some members of the technical bench.

"I can assure you that parting ways with Marere was not such an easy thing. Stand in coach Tendai Chikuni had indicated to the outgoing executive that he wanted Marere for next season, but guess what, the new executive agreed that he must go."

Platinum have re-structured with former boss Nathan Shoko now honorary president, while chairman Tadson Zhou, Lovett Wadawareva and Elton Nyoka are now members of the advisory committee.

Benson Virimayi is the new secretary-general, taking over from Phil Muvengwa who now heads the commercial activities of the club with Petros Ngoruma coming in as the new treasurer, while Lloyd Shirichena will act as the fundraising officer.