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Lovemore Dube, Senior Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup, FC Platinum will be accompanied by a minimum of 50 supporters to their match in Kenya, Chronicle Sport has learnt.Club spokesperson Chido Chizondo said the club’s supporters would fly to Kenya for the preliminary round match against Sofapaka set for February 14 to 16.
“We have about 50 supporters who have confirmed that they would travel with the team to cheer up the boys. The number could even be more, there is so much excitement about the team playing in Africa,” said Chizondo.
The Chibuku Super Cup winners are playing in Africa for the second time. Their first participation was in 2012 when they went as far as the second round of the competition.
FC Platinum will leave Zimbabwe on February 13 with the supporters a day later. Chizondo said the idea was to have the team acclimatising to the weather ahead of the match set for February 15.
“Fans will follow a day later with members of the executive. The team would have travelled a day earlier so that they have ample time to acclimatise to conditions there,” she said.
Chizondo said preparations on both the pitch and dressing room were going on smoothly.
“There are no injuries in the camp, so far so good, we are ready to leave on February 13 and February 14 for the team and supporters respectively. Everything is going smoothly and we look forward to a good game and result,” said Chizondo.
Former Warriors kingpin, now FC Platinum coach, Norman Mapeza has assembled a balanced team that is oozing with junior talent and veterans of many battles at both national and international level.
In players like Kelvin Moyo, Elvis Moyo, Wisdom Mutasa and Walter Musona, he has young cubs still eager to make an impression, while in veterans Petros Mhari, Daniel Veremu, Obrey Chirwa and Donald Ngoma, he has warriors who want to leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Exposure to international football and its rugged terrain could be one of Mapeza’s aces.
It could be the first time that such a large contingent of fans accompanies a club to a continental tournament in the preliminaries.With supporters always the 12th player, a good away match result is expected.
FC Platinum are the only continental club representatives this year after Dynamos who should have participated in the African Champions League, opted out.
Online Reporter