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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S representatives in the CAF Champions League football, FC Platinum, are set to plunge into a fresh campaign this afternoon when they face off with Angolan champions, GD Sagrada Esperanca, in the preliminary round, first leg match at the Estádio Municipal dos Coqueiros in downtown Luanda this afternoon.
Kick-off is at 4pm.
The platinum miners will be returning to competitive action for the first time in three months and are hoping to get their campaign on a positive start.
The Zvishavane side have made it to the group stage twice in the past and will be aiming for improved performances in the new campaign. However, coach Norman Mapeza’s men would need to deal with the effects of the lack of regular competitive football in the last two years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The platinum miners last played competitively in the Chibuku Super Cup, which was suspended in June because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mapeza told journalists on the eve of the team’s departure for Angola that they would not want to continue moaning about things beyond their control. He has continuously told his players to maintain focus.
“I gave the guys some training programmes during the lockdown, the one-and-half months that we have not been training, so in terms of their endurance I am not worried much about it.
“But it’s the technical and tactical side of the game that I have been worried about. So we were trying to work on their sharpness and speed these past two weeks.
“We also tried to arrange friendly games just to see how these guys are performing and these guys managed to last the 90 minutes. I think they have done so well.”
Mapeza said his team has made the most of the little time they had in the last three weeks to prepare for the game.
FC Platinum have been studying their opponents as part of the preparations and they realised that Sagrada Esperanca are no pushovers.
The side booked their ticket to the continent’s premier club football tournament after winning the Angola Girabola ahead of seasoned campaigners Petro Luanda.
“We have been doing some video analysis of GD Segrada of late. We also did a little bit of match analysis on Segrada. They are a very good team, they have very quick forwards. We checked their transition from defence to attack, they are a very quick side,” said Mapeza.
FC Platinum have seasoned players like goalkeeper Petros Mhari, Rahman Kutsanzira, Gift Bello, Donald Ngoma, Rodwell Chinyengetere and Silas Songani to lead the side on the continent.
They also have a number of youthful players, among them the recently promoted juniors Thandolweknosi Ngwenya and Oscar Bhebhe and 21-year-old Nigerian import, Abubakar Onafide.
Mapeza said the youngsters were not just making numbers, although they are not likely to feature soon.
“I have a strong feeling that those youngsters are the future of the club. If an opportunity arises for them to play, maybe some few minutes, then why not?
“They are footballers and I think that’s the time for them to learn. It all just depends with the situation. If the situation demands that I use them, then I will definitely use some of the youngsters,” said Mapeza.
GD Segrada, who are bankrolled by Angola’s state-run diamond company, ENDIAMA, are returning to the African safari after 16 years.
They should be in better shape as they have been playing domestic football regularly, unlike the platinum miners, who were hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdowns in the last two years.
Sagrada Esperança coach, Roque Sapiri, told journalists at the conclusion of their preparations that the goal is to qualify for the group stage of the competition.
They welcomed back central defender Gaspar and forward Lépua from the Angola national team that played in recent World Cup qualifiers.
“I believe, in particular, that the team has the ability to do the best in this game. Now it all depends on our disposition on the field, on the moments of play. Morale is high and we will fight to the end to reach the group stage,” said Sapiri.
However, the former left back of the Lunda-Norte team, was dealt a huge setback after CAF yesterday confirmed that he will not be allowed to sit on the bench because he does not possess the required coaching badges.
Nearly a dozen coaches across the continent have been affected by the new rule, which requires head coaches to be holders of a valid CAF “A” License, or equivalent from a sister confederation, and assistant coaches to be CAF “B” License holders.
CAF have appointed the quartet eSwatini referees, headed by Thalani Sabelo Sibanzde, to be in charge of the match. Sibanzde will be assisted by Petros Mzikayifani Mbingo and Sifiso Nxumalo while Celumusa Siphepho is the fourth referee. Raphael Lyson Humba of Malawi has been appointed the match commissioner.
The return leg will be played next Saturday at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
FC Platinum squad
- Mhari, F. Tizayi, W. Magalane N. Chinyerere, B. Moyo, D. Dzvinyai, T. Ngwenya, B. Banda, H. Magaya, W. Stima, R. Kutsanzira, R. Pavari, K. Madzongwe, D. Teguru, J. Mangiza, D. Ngoma, E. Tendayi, R. Chinyengetere, G. Bello, G. Mbweti, S. Songani, P. Mutimbanyoka, Bhebhe, A. Onafide
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