adminLeopards at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The match kicks-off at 3pm.”We are good to go,” Antipas said last night after a two-hour work out at the match venue, which was among the facilities that South Africa used during the 2010 World Cup.
“There is a job to be done and the boys we will send to the field have the desire, the talent and are without doubt capable of getting things done.
“With a second leg coming at home in two weeks time, it’s of paramount importance that we don’t take high risks.
However, this does not mean we will take an ultra-defensive approach as what we will seek to do is to first feel out our opponents, get to confirm the system they are using before adjusting our game accordingly.
“Over the past few weeks we have closely monitored how Black Leopards play and on Wednesday we watched their game against Orlando Pirates and we noted that they are strong on the right flank and are quick onto he counter-attack.
“We will give them the respect they deserve but it ends there,” Antipas said.
Before coming here, the Motor Action technical department was given an insight into Black Leopards by CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe whose outfit beat the South African side 1-0 during a four-team invitational tournament here two weeks ago.
Antipas yesterday shared a bottle of whisky with Lidoda Duvha assistant coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa and the pair exchanged views on just about everything – from Asiagate to today’s duel.
And the Mighty Bulls gaffer says the presence of Chidzambwa as well as the pair of Kingstone Nkhata and the ineligible Zvenyika Makonese gives the hosts some edge over his team today.
Makonese is not registered for the second tier continental competition. However, with a host of new bulls in his battalion, Antipas reckons whatever the Zimbabwean trio knows of Motor Action will be out of touch with the current modus operandi at the Mbada Diamonds Cup finalists.
“We are going through a revolution such that even us as coaches we are not yet sure just how hard this team can punch. We lost a few players in the off-season and brought on some youngsters who are hungry for success.
That mixture of youth and experience should serve us well in both the domestic and continental campaign.
“The new boys that have come on board have brought a refreshing dimension because they are ball players but naturally the challenge is to make them have the tactical discipline needed when playing encounters such as the one against Black Leopards,” he said.
Motor Action are hoping for better fortunes in the second tier competition following an early heartbreak in their maiden Champions League campaign last year.
The Mighty Bulls’ new acquisitions like James Jam, Ngoni Maviri, Jonathan Chitereki, Dominic Mukandi and Tongai Mangwendere are set to make their competitive debuts against the ABSA Premiership whipping boys. Black Leopards anchor the South African top-flight league and are shipping in goals with astonishing consistency.
However, there is a feeling in their camp that the team is turning the corner with their technical team pointing to a battling performance in the 0-1 loss to champions Orlando Pirates on Wednesday night as evidence. Nkhata, who worked with Antipas during their days at Caps FC, is expected to lead the home team’s attack today and the striker is talking tough.
“Motor Action can underrate us at their own peril. Yes, we might be bottom of the league here but that does not mean we are there for the taking.
It will be a difficult game but I believe we will win the match before going on to finish the job when we come to Rufaro,” he said.
Motor Action’s Probable Line-up
M. Jani, P. Bernard, G. Moyo, R. Machaya, J. Chitereki, D. Mukandi, J. Jam, N.Maviri, M. Mambare, T. Mangwendere, G. Phiri.
Online Reporter