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Mukudzei Chingwere Midlands Bureau
VERSATILE midfielder Liberty Chakoroma is still hopeful he will secure an amicable exit from Ngezi Platinum and be able to feature for their Premiership rivals FC Platinum this year. The former Zimbabwe youth captain has sought a move to FC Platinum in order to capitalise on the Zvishavane side’s participation in the Champions league. Chakoroma turned out for Ngezi Platinum last season, but he was one of the top players who are on the 28-man list that FC Platinum submitted to the Confederation of African Football for registration.

The former Buffaloes man, however, seems to have encountered a snag in his bid to move during this off-season as he has not finalised his exit with Ngezi despite being provisionally registered by their fellow platinum miners.

Chakoroma was conspicuous by his absence from the FC Platinum training base yesterday as they regrouped ahead of a three-week training camp in Bulawayo which starts today.

Despite the huge interests shown by FC Platinum, Ngezi are keen to hold on to their player as they seek to do better than the third-place finish in the championship race.

But as the situation appears to be betting desperate for Chakoroma, the midfielder did not, travel to Zvishavane to link up with his new teammates yesterday and instead made the road trip to Mhondoro to try to convince the Ngezi Platinum management to release him.

Chakoroma said yesterday from Mhondoro that his intention to leave Ngezi for FC Platinum, had been inspired by a desire to solely develop his career “and nothing else”.

“I did not want to be involved in controversies from the onset and it is just unfortunate that my transfer has gone to this.

“In football it’s just good to join or leave another club without any controversies hopefully this situation will be quickly solved.

“I am at Ngezi Platinum right now. I was talking to the bosses at Ngezi over the phone, but they advised me to come so that we can talk,” he said.

“I have not yet met them, but to be honest I have nothing against Ngezi Platinum and I just want to leave the club to further my career.

“FC Platinum is playing in the Champions League and when players participate in that tournament it is an opportunity for them to join foreign clubs because the tournament is followed by many international scouts.

“Even if I fail to get a foreign club, playing in the Champions League is playing international football. I hope to play regularly for the Warriors and playing in this tournament will give me international exposure that will be valuable when I will be playing for the Warriors.

“I have enjoyed my stay at Ngezi since joining the club and if I am allowed to leave the club surely I will miss them for the good times we had together, but for the purposes of developing my career I feel this is the right time to leave,” said Chakoroma.

Ngezi Platinum secretary Cleote Munjoma said nothing has changed regarding Chakoroma’s status although he hinted there is a possibility that they might let the player leave the club.

“The situation remains the same nothing has changed and he (Chakoroma) still remains our player until the end of the season. FC Platinum is yet to approach us regarding the player.

“They said they will announce their final squad on the 15th so we wait to see their final squad if the situation remains like this probably he will not be there.

“But in football you cannot say never maybe they will approach us before the deadline and we agree to release him,” said Munjoma.

Hard tackling defender Lawrence Mhlanga, who has also endured problems over his contract and release from Chicken Inn, has also joined FC Platinum and was in Zvishavane together with other new acquisitions who have been brought in to strengthen the champions.