FC Platinum coach Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh said that the mini-league proposed by the government and embraced by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) should be abandoned as it exposes players to the coronavirus.
De Jongh said ZIFA should instead, channel its resources towards preparing the senior men’s national team for the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
This comes after ZIFA came up with the idea of a mini-league tournament which is set to be contested by Premier Soccer League (PSL) sides in December at a cost of over US$1 million.
The Dutchman opined that the money should be used to support the Warriors and FC Platinum who will be playing in the 2020/21 CAF Champions League. Said De Jongh:
My advice is for Zifa to support the Warriors for Chan and FC Platinum in the Champions League 100%. Just give the month of December to national team coach (Zdravko Logarusic) and FC Platinum.
The national team coach selected 30 players (for Chan) and he can go into training with them and have a good preparation for Chan except for FC Platinum players because we are preparing for Champions League.
The national team can then play two friendly matches against FC Platinum in December which will be good for both at a low cost and easy to control environment for the coronavirus.
Players can be tested for COVID-19 before arrival and when they leave for home. I think this is the best way; cheap and safe; that is a personal opinion.