adminInnocent Kurira in Bulawayo
FC PLATINUM coach, Norman Mapeza would have loved the opportunity to take part in the CAF champions league, but suggests his present squad is not ready for that stage.
The four-time champions will not participate in the CAF Champions League because of the ban imposed on the country by FIFA.
Without dwelling much into the ban, Mapeza feels the absence from the Champions League could be an opportunity to build a team that can compete at that level.
“It’s sad for our football, but l have to be honest (the ban). As much as we want to compete in the CAF Champions League, we are still lagging behind. If the opportunity was there, we will go out there and play, but deep down in my heart l know we are not ready for that stage. I have seen top teams in Africa and we are not at that level,” said Mapeza.
“If you look at Morocco and where they are in terms of football, they are too far away. What their national team did at the World Cup shows a clear picture of the work they are doing. We are still far off. Mapeza suggests his side needs time to develop before they can compete at continental level.
“Of course, we want to go to the African Safari, but does it make sense for us to go out there and get hammered five six goals; what will people say? We are not yet ready. We have to start from somewhere and go step by step up the ladder. In football, it’s like a graph, you start from stage zero going up.
“We don’t want to go there when l still feel we are not there yet. We can talk of getting experience, but do you think you can get experience when you get hammered 10, psychological you will be affected.
“The squad we had in 2018 l feel could have gone far, but these guys we have now are still young. There will be time l feel now we have a squad that can go there and gives us what we want,” said Mapeza
Mapeza says he is happy with the new signings in his team. He said there will be no departures, but maybe two or three additions to the squad.
FC Platinum, who have parted ways with William Stima, Blessing Moyo, Nigel Makumbe, Onifade Abubakar Temitope, and Evidence Tendayi, have been training in Bulawayo.
Pure Platinum Play have reunited with Perfect Chikwende, who left Bulawayo Chiefs. Jarrison Selemani, 25, and left back Misheck Ngwenya, 24, have also joined the Zvishavane side from Cranborne Bullets and Triangle United.
Online Reporter