adminplatinum miners suffered a body blow after Caf barred them from using their home ground, Mandava, for this big game.
FC Platinum arrived in Harare on Wednesday night and yesterday began their capital leg of their preparations for tomorrow’s big game at Rufaro
Coach Rahman Gumbo, who is hoping for a good result in the first leg, yesterday said they will host a media conference at the match venue today.
“My players are not under pressure at all and I will never put them under pressure,” said Gumbo.
“We are in the competition to compete and every team has a chance of proceeding to the next round
“I watched their players in action at Afcon but my focus is on my team and it is not a very special game as we will play it just like any other match.
“I have heard that they have been sending spies and I am not worried.
“It only means that we are a special team with a good brand no wonder why they are worried probably because we won our match against Green Mamba 8-2 on aggregate, a result I believe sent shockwaves.
“They must have got scared and are now taking us seriously because we are a better side than what people thought.”
Gumbo said there were no easy games in the tournament.
“Playing in the Champions League is not easy as it is a big league. You have to be good to play there and our being there means we are very good,” said Gumbo.
“The two teams that are representing Zimbabwe in the Champions League are good and deserve to be playing in the Champions League.”
El-Merreikh have eight players who are in the Sudanese national team and an expatriate Jonas Sakuwaha, who is a Zambian international.
“I am not worried that the Sudanese team has eight players in the national team in Sudan,” said Gumbo.
“I do not have individual players in my team but we play as a team and I have a few injury worries as Katsvairo (Mitchelle) Cabby (Kamhapa) and Allan (Gahadzikwa) have injuries but they are not major ones.
“I am happy that Nenzou (Rowan) has resolved his personal problems and is back in training.
“Donald (Ngoma) is still out but the team that I have is prepared for the battle.”
FC Platinum got off to a flying start in this year’s competition when they dismissed Swaziland’s Green Mamba 8-2 on aggregate.
They will be hoping to continue with the good form against the Sudanese giants, who are taking part in this tournament for the 19th time.
Merreikh, who arrived in the country on Wednesday, however do not have a strong profile in this competition, with their best performance in the modern tournament being a mini-league berth in 2009.
Last year they were knocked out in the first round through a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw with Inter Luanda.
Meanwhile, Hwange’s opponents in the first round of the Confederation Cup, El Amal Otbara, arrived in Harare yesterday around midday before connecting to Victoria Falls where they will stay.
The teams will clash in the first round, first leg encounter at the Colliery on Sunday.
Online Reporter