FC Platinum bus supporters to Bulawayo

Mukudzei Chingwere

FC Platinum have chartered buses to ferry their supporters from Zvishavane to Bulawayo for the epic CAF Champions’ League match.

“We are hoping to get a good crowd behind the team here in Bulawayo and the atmosphere in the city is very encouraging that they will be behind us for a national cause,” said club spokesperson Chido Chizondo.

“We are expecting a big number of people from all over the country to come for the big match. Five buses for supporters will also be coming from Zvishavane so that we can help in cheering the team.’’

Meanwhile, Kuda Mahachi says Bulawayo is a second home for Orlando Pirates because they have a huge fan base in the City of Kings.

The Zimbabwe international midfielder even says all the people of Bulawayo support the Soweto giants.

Mahachi, who grew up in Bulawayo supporting the Buccaneers, is expecting a warm reception for his South African side.

‘’Should I be considered to travel with the team to Zimbabwe, I will certainly be emotional because I’ll be going back home to a place where I grew up,’’ he told his club’s website.

‘’Everybody in Bulawayo supports Orlando Pirates.

“We grew up watching the team and supporting players like Teko Modise and Joseph Kamwendo, who were an inspiration to watch.

“The team I even played for while I was based there, Highlanders, modelled themselves around Orlando Pirates.

‘’They even adopted the Club’s iconic crossbones salute before the start of their matches.

“I have been inundated with calls from back home telling me that they are excited about the prospects of seeing Orlando Pirates play in Bulawayo.

“They are telling me that they are 100 percent behind us. They have also been enquiring about the likes of Thembinkosi Lorch, Vincent Pule and the rest of the guys because they follow the team religiously.’’

Having scored two crucial goals in successive matches, Mahachi has proven to be quite the impact player coming off the bench.

“We can’t underestimate FC Platinum, they are a quality side with a pedigree having won the league in Zimbabwe.

‘’We can expect them to come hard at us.

“Their game is almost similar to ours because they also enjoy playing with the ball on the ground and keeping possession. It should be an interesting game on the weekend,” he said. The Herald