adminSpeaking at the airport yesterday afternoon shortly before the team left for Addis Ababa where they would connect in the evening and arrive around 2am in Khartoum, the defender was optimistic that the platinum miners can progress to the second round of the tournament.
The 32-member delegation left yesterday and tomorrow would be joined by a dozen supporters, including their sponsors FBC.
“Our chances are 50-50. They scored two goals here and so what can stop us from doing the same there.
“We will quickly adapt to all the conditions, good or bad, we will face there. We will be focused on the game. We have character to progress to the next round but to do well in Africa you have to beat the best,” said Ngodzo.
The Zvishavane-based side laboured to a 2-2 draw at Rufaro and the former Highlanders defender had a torrid time with El Merreikh forwards and coach Rahman Gumbo had to bring in Norman Togara in the first period in place for his skipper.
Ngodzo, one of the most experienced players in the team, would be hoping for an improved performance.
FC Platinum newboy Ali Sadiki also believes it would be an open game on Saturday evening.
“We are still in the picture and all we need is a win even a 1-0 would be good for us. At least when they are at home they should play a more attacking game and leave some gaps and we should use that to our advantage.
“It’s always tricky when playing away and we are playing in the evening and we anticipate the match to begin at a fast pace and the first 30 minutes would be crucial but we have to maintain and absorb the pressure.
“Every time we score a goal it would be to our advantage and should unsettle them,” said Sadiki.
The former Gunners midfielder is also not new to the African safari and was part of the Chando Kupisa team which beat Egyptian giants Al Ahly 1-0 at Rufaro before losing 2-0 in Cairo.
Former Motor Action midfielder Allen Gahadzikwa also called on his teammates to come to party and said it is possible to win away.
“I have some experience playing in this tournament and have been telling the youngsters that we can win in Sudan. Last year at Motor Action we lost at Rufaro but went on to win in Madagascar. I just hope I will also have a good game and contributes to the team,” said Gahadzikwa.
FC Platinum had to come from behind to force a draw against the visitors at Rufaro with goals coming from newboy Mitchell Katsvairo and Joel Ngodzo.
In the absence of striker Donald Ngoma, the Warriors gaffer would be hoping to get goals from Charles Sibanda.
The club’s secretary Philemon Muwengwa, who traveled as the advance party and arrived inKhartoum in the early hours of yesterday, said they got good reception
from the Sudanese hosts.
“We arrived at 2am and we found El Merreikh officials and officials from our embassy here. We have been booked in a nice hotel, Coral Khartoum, and we have prepared everything and now waiting for team’s arrivals at dawn. We have been to the match venue and it is a nice stadium and later in the day we will go and see the training venue which is the National Sports Stadium.
“There is a huge presence of the army in town with soldiers at every corner and it is very hot and humid but in the evening it is much cooler and should be better for our players,” said Muwengwa.
Meanwhile, Hwange Football Club also arrived in Atabara about 300km from capital Khartoum yesterday morning. Their Confederation Cup match will now be staged on Sunday at 7.30pm and club secretary Burzil Dube who also travelled as the advance party said the team had a charter flight from Khartoum.
“The team arrived at 2am and in the morning got into a charter plane for Atabara which is about 280km from the capital. The team will have their first training session tonight (last evening). Here it is very hot with temperatures averaging 43 degrees so we would only be training in the evenings. Our hotel is about 15 km from the training venue and we are safe and the Zimbabwean embassy officials here have assured us that we shouldn’t be worried about security issues,” said Dube.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter