Second chance in Zim: Can Thabo Senong awaken FC Platinum?
Four-time PSL champions FC Platinum have confirmed the exit of Joel Luphahla and his technical team, and have appointed South African Thabo Senong as their new head coach as he returns to Zimbabwe following his brief romance stint with Highlanders FC in January.
Senong, formerly with Sekhukhune United was in Zimbabwe earlier this year to take over at Highlanders, but that move fell apart before it started. Warriors and Manchester City legend Benjani Mwaruwari ended up taking over Bosso in a dramatic turn of events.
Now, he has been handed another shot in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, to turn around FC Platinum’s fortunes around, with the team currently a pale shadow of itself.
FC Platinum sit 11th on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table with 31 points from 25 matches. Senong will be expected to guide the team to at least a top-eight finish, with nine games remaining before the season ends.
Additionally, they will also have a chance at silverware in the 2026 Chibuku Super Cup and the inaugural Munhumutapa Cup. In a statement on Tuesday, the club announced Luphahla’s departure and Senong’s arrival, although the latter will have to complete formalities before he kicks off his tenure.
FC PLATINUM REPLACES LUPHAHLA WITH THABO SENONG
“FC Platinum has mutually parted ways with Head Coach Joel Luphahla and members of his technical staff. We would like to express our gratitude to Coach Luphahla and his team for their dedication, hard work and contributions to the Club, and we wish them continued success in their future endeavours,” the statement read.
“The Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Thabo Senong as Head Coach, subject to the completion of contractual and registration formalities. In the interim, Coaches Moses Mwafulira and Alexio Sigion will take charge of training and preparations for the team.”
“We extend a warm welcome to Coach Senong as he joins the FC Platinum family, and we look forward to an exciting new chapter under his leadership. We thank our supporters, sponsors and stakeholders for their continued support.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THABO SENONG
Senong arrives in Zvishavane with serious pedigree albeit at national team level. As head coach, Senong won the COSAFA U-20 Cup twice with South Africa’s Amajita, lifting the trophy in 2017 and 2018.
He also guided that same U-20 side to back-to-back Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifications in 2017 and 2019.
At senior level, Senong served as assistant coach for Bafana Bafana under both Shakes Mashaba and Stuart Baxter, before taking charge of Lesotho’s senior men’s national team from 2019 to 2021. As such, FC Platinum are hoping that track record can drag them out of 11th place
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