Ngezi Platinum Primed To Take Up CAF Slot

It looks like Ngezi Platinum will represent Zimbabwe on the continent after Highlanders withdrew from playing in the 2020/2021 CAF Confederation Cup.

Highlanders has informed the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) of the decision citing financial constraints for their inability to represent the country in the continent’s second-tier inter-club competition.

Reports indicate that Highlander’s withdrawal has made ZIFA resort to writing two invites concurrently to Ngezi Platinum and Chicken Inn, hoping one of them jumps first.

Ngezi Platinum lost to Highlanders in the Chibuku Cup finals last year which gave the miners a ticket to represent the country in the tournament.

Chicken Inn, who finished as Zimbabwe Premier League runners-up, are said to have declined the invite as it is rumoured that they don’t have a budget for continental supplementary expenditure.

However, ZIFA may take a sigh of relief, thanks to the smoke emanating from the West of Mashonaland, after it emerged Ngezi Platinum are considering the offer, and this should be finalized before the end of the week.

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League spokesperson Kudzai Bare confirmed the development though it remains unclear if Platinum is yet to come up with the final decision.

In 2018, Zimbabwean football found itself in such situation after Harare City whom ZIFA had given the slot, refused the offer.

Last season Triangle represented the country in the tournament. They crashed out at the playoff stage to Mauritanian side FC Nouadhibou.