Ngezi Platinum F.C.

Ngezi Platinum Stars Football Club
	Ngezi Platinum Stars
Full name	Ngezi Platinum Stars
Nickname(s)	Madamburo
Founded	2001
Ground	Baobab Stadium
Owner	Zimplats
Chairman	Leonard Musariri
Manager	Takesure Chiragwi
League	Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League
Website	Club home page

Ngezi Platinum Stars is a Zimbabwean Football Club that plays in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League. They Originated from Ngezi Mine and their home Stadium is the newly refurbished Baobab Stadium where they are managed by Takesure Chiragwi who took over on an interim basis after the club parted ways with Benjani Mwaruwari better known as "The Undertaker" in football circles on 25 July 2022 who was appointed after the club had parted ways with Rodwell Dhlakama.

Background

Ngezi Platinum Stars (NPS) FC formerly known as Ngezi Sporto FC started playing social football in 2001 and was at that time sponsored by MCC (Open Cast Contractor). However, in 2004 the club started playing competitive soccer and qualified to join the ZIFA Mashonaland West Division 2B. They played in the ZIFA Northern Region Division 1 in 2015 and won the championship to gain promotion into the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League under the guidance of Clifton Kadurira^[1]

The Manager

NDIRAYA

Former Dynamos midfielder Tonderayi Ndiraya was excited when he was appointed back in mainstream football after he was confirmed as head coach at struggling Premiership new boys Ngezi Platinum Stars back in 2016 when the team was struggling. Ndiraya replaced Clifton Kadurira who was reassigned to the position of assistant coach.

Ndiraya said

"Obviously, I am happy to get such a big job. It’s an honour to coach a professional club such as Ngezi Platinum Stars. They could be new in the Premiership but the most important thing is they are a big brand. “So I am excited, I look forward to a lot of positives. Of course, most of the players are new to the Premiership and we should expect them to step up their performance to the standards befitting such a big brand,”

^[2]

After the team failed to reach the promised land twice they decided to part ways with Tonderai Ndiraya towards the end of the 2018 season and hired former Highlanders Football Club Dutch coach Elroy Akbay who took charge until September 2019 when he was also sacked for poor results and was replaced by the current coach Rodwell Dhlakama who was coaching Chapungu Football Club in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.^[3]

Dhlakama was sacked after the club conducted an internal investigation where he was being accused of asking for kick backs in return for game time from the players. He was replaced by former Warriors captain, Benjani Mwaruwari.

Chairman's Comments

“If you look at our position on the log standings, it doesn’t reflect well. Two wins in nine games isn’t good enough,” said Gasiteni. We have said it from the start that our target this year is to survive relegation and with the way the results have not been coming, we didn’t want to wait until it was late to make the changes. “We don’t want to be relegated, simple as that. “And for a smooth changeover, Kadurira will take charge of the next match against Dynamos and then, when Ndiraya starts work on Monday, he (Kadurira) will remain in the technical team as assistant. “But going forward it will be up to the new coach to decide who he wants to work with.”^[2]

Management

Board

Takawira Maswiswi (President)
Lysias Chiwozva (Vice President - Technical)
Wadzanayi Mutsakanyi (Vice President - Admin & Commercial)
Garikai Bera (Vice President - Governance & Compliance)
Busi Chindove (Vice President - Marketing and Communications)
Roberto Katunga (Board Member - Communications Officer)
Leonard Musariri (Club Chairman)
Amanda Nyanzero (Chief Executive Officer)

Executive Committee

Leonard Musariri - (Chairman)
Dr Silence Gavi - (Vice Chairman)
Cloete Munjoma (Secretary General)
Rachel Mojo (Treasurer)
Rumbidzayi Muyambuki (Committee Member)
Justice Fushari (Committee Member)
Roberto Katunga (Communication Invitee)
Amanda Nyanzero (Secretariat Invitee)

In May 2022, Ngezi Platinum Stars announced the appointment of Yvonne Mapika Manwa as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Manwa’s appointment comes a month after Madamburo (Ngezi) parted ways with Nyasha Kadenge who was previously in the CEO position. According to reports, Kadenge who had been CEO for close to six years was fired after a disciplinary hearing. However, reasons for the hearing together with its outcome remained undisclosed.

Ngezi Platinum also appointed Benjani Mwaruwari as their new head coach in March, along with Bongani Mafu as his assistant coach. This was after the departure of Rodwell Dhlakama who was first placed on suspension in February over allegations of corruption before resigning. Also, Ngezi also took on ex-Warriors captain Tinashe “Father” Nengomasha as the club’s manager. ^[4]

In May 2022, Ngezi Platinum confirmed that Nyasha Kadenge was departing the position of club CEO. She was appointed in 2016, the first CEO after the club was promoted to the PSL. ^[5]

The club announced the appointment of Amanda Nyanzero as their new Chief Executive Officer on 14 November 2023 replacing the outgoing Yvonne Mapika Manwa who was appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) at the end of October 2023.^[6]

Events

In May 2022, Ngezi Platinum confirmed that Nyasha Kadenge was departing the position of club CEO. She was appointed in 2016, the first CEO after the club was promoted to the PSL. ^[5]

References

↑ [1], Published:13 October 2015 , Retrieved: 28 July 2016
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 [2], , Published:17 June 2016 , Retrieved: 29 July 2016
↑ [3], Published:26 September 2019 , Retrieved: 11 November 2019
↑ Ngezi Platinum Stars replace Nyasha Kadenge, appoint new CEO, Nehanda Radio, Published: 18 May 2022, Retrieved: 9 October 2023
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Ngezi Platinum Stars CEO departs, Chronicle, Published: 4 May 2022, Retrieved: 9 October 2023
↑ [4], Twitter, Published: 14 November 2023, Retrieved: 14 November 2023