HARARE - FC Platinum defender Daniel Veremu has set his sights on a Zimbabwe national side return after his club bailed him out of the career-threatening Asiagate match-fixing scandal.

The Mutoko-born defender was among players cleared by Zifa last year in the biggest scandal ever to hit Zimbabwean football on condition they paid admission of guilty fines.

Veremu said he was now focused on winning silverware with Platinum in the new season and earning a Warriors recall.

“I want to help the club fight for the championship and then eventually return to the national team setup,” Veremu told the Daily News from Platinum’s training base in Zvishavane yesterday.

Platinum missed out on the league title on goal difference to eventual winners Dynamos in their debut season in 2011 but were a pale shadow of themselves in last year’s campaign, finishing a disappointing seventh on the standings.

“Missing out on the league title on goal difference was very painful, but that is football. I will give it my all to make sure we win the league,” he said.

Veremu is hoping to impress newly-appointed Platinum coach Tenant Chilumba, setting himself up for a Warriors call-up from new coach Klaus-Dieter Pagels.

“I have worked with Chilumba for only three days so far; he is good just like other coaches I have previously worked with.  I know I have to work hard to please him and if I do that then it will be easier to get a national team call-up. But my immediate target is to get fit and give my all to FC Platinum.”
Platinum kicked off their pre-season preparations on Monday and are expected to intensify their preparations with a two-week camp in the resort town of Kariba next week.

The Zvishavane-based side have already shipped out former skipper Zephaniah Ngodzo, goalkeeper Tsungi Mudzamiri, defender Norman Togara and winger Benjamin Marere, but are yet to make any big name signings.