adminDeMbare are scheduled to host Bizertin at Rufaro on April 7, facing a difficult task to overturn a 3-0 deficit after losing their first leg match in Tunisia, last week.
The Harare giants will begin the defence of their title against Black Mambas at Morris Depot before playing host to Charity Shield winners Chicken Inn at Rufaro.
Team manager, Richard Chihoro, yesterday said DeMbare, who face, Black Rhinos in a friendly match at Rufaro tomorrow, are relieved they have three weeks to prepare for Bizertin since the return leg cannot be played next week because of the World Cup qualifiers currently underway.
Chihoro said the Glamour Boys are happy that they will be able to get thorough preparations with their first game likely to be slotted next Thursday and with the next against Chicken Inn coming on Easter Monday.
The domestic season, which was provisionally set to begin next Saturday, is likely to start two days earlier at a brisk pace as the organisers are hoping to take advantage of the Easter holidays and play the first two rounds inside four days.
According to the original release, this year’s programme had been pencilled to kick off on the weekend of March 30–April 1 with the second round a week later.
However, PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele yesterday confirmed they would need to make use of every available opportunity to create five extra weeks on the calendar to accommodate the Zifa Cup which returns this year.
Chihoro yesterday said they desperately needed the game time since most of their opponents in the Champions League were active in their leagues.
“I believe it’s a blessing in disguise for us because we will play two competitive games which we hope will help prepare us for that second leg.
“We needed such high level competition to improve our match fitness especially at this time when teams from other countries, like the Tunisians we are playing in this round, are in the middle of their league programmes.
“We have also arranged a friendly game against Black Rhinos at Rufaro on Saturday and I think by the time we host Bizertin we should be ready,” said Chihoro.
DeMbare, who had begun their campaign by dumping minnows Lesotho Correctional Services in the preliminary round, were punished by Bizertin for being too defensive and giving their hosts the respect they did not deserve.
Coach Callisto Pasuwa and his men will have to go back to the drawing board to try and overturn the result in the return leg.
Pasuwa believes the dream is still on despite the setback they suffered in Bizerte.
“Definitely we have to be on the offensive. We will have to attack so that we can get the three goals. They (Bizertin) are not a very difficult side.
“They were leaving gaps at the back which we can make use of.
“Maybe we gave them too much respect in terms of play especially in the first 15 minutes of the second half hence they got three re-starts from which they scored.
“But I am saying to the guys let’s go out there, correct ourselves and get the three goals. It’s the way we take our chances when they come on our side. We had few chances and had we scored one goal in Tunisia it was going to be much easier for us.
“So we are saying those few chances that we get let’s bury them,” said Pasuwa.
Online Reporter