Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
BRUISED and battered FC Platinum yesterday resumed their preparations for the return leg of the Total Caf Champions League Group B match against Horoya of Guinea in Conakry on February 12.
The match is set for the 28 Septembre Stadium in the Guinean capital.
Pure Platinum Play’s chances took a terrible knock when they fell 0-1 to Horoya before an appreciative crowd at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday, a result which left them rooted at the basement of the group with just a single point from the three games, but more crucially with no goals in all their encounters.
While the whole objective for the Zimbabwean champions was to taste the sweetness of the Group stages in the tournament, it’s no secret that they would want to leave a mark in their maiden appearance by causing upsets and letting fate take care of the rest.
Mathematically they are still in with a chance, but the law of probability weighs heavily against them despite nine possible points they can still get in their remaining three games.
The other three opponents in the group, leaders and 1995 winners Orlando Pirates, second-placed and defending champions Esperance as well as Horoya AC all have an equal chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
After the Guinea trip, Mapeza’s charges visit the Sea Robbers on March 8 in Soweto, South Africa, before playing host to Esperance on March 16 to wrap up their maiden group stage campaign.
Meanwhile, next week’s game against Horoya will be handled by Seychelles nationals Bernard Camille, Hensley Petrouse and James Fedrick.
derick.khumalo