adminteam is scheduled to leave Harare today for Sudan for the second leg of their first round tie against El-Merreikh on Saturday night.
FC Platinum were left on the back foot after a 2-2 draw home draw against the Sudanese giants at Rufaro.
“We are going to Sudan to try and bring a positive result. Our objective is to qualify for the next round and we are looking at nothing else except that,’ said Gumbo.
“We are going to play open football and there is no point for us to defend at all. We are going to attack from the first whistle until full time and we hope we are going to qualify.”
FC Platinum did not travel back to their Zvishavane base following their 3-1 victory over Black Mambas and camped at one of the city hotels in the capital.
Gumbo said while El-Merreikh were strong, his team was equally competitive.
“I have watched them play and I am not worried about their national team players as my squad has also players who play in the national team,” said Gumbo.
The Sudanese outfit emerged out of Rufaro with two vital goals after the controversial decision by Caf to move the match from its original venue, Mandava, in Zvishavane.
Hard-tackling defender Norman Togara, who has impressed in recent weeks and was the outstanding player against El-Merreikh, is out of the game in Sudan.
Togara is ineligible to play in Sudan after being sent off in the game at Rufaro.
The former Dynamos defender won the hearts of the fans during that game when he managed to contain the threat of Sudanese danger-man, Omar Musab.
But, just two minutes from time, he was sent off and walked away from the field to a standing ovation from the fans.
Togara has fed the world of conspiracy theorists who claim that the Zimbabwe international defender is afraid of flying. The defender was not part of the FC Platinum team that played in Swaziland but was back in the team for the home tie.
The conspiracy theorists will argue that Togara had a hand to play in his red card at Rufaro so that he could become ineligible for Saturday’s match and miss the flight to Sudan.
Captain Zephaniah Ngodzo had a horror show in the first half of that match and was pulled out before the interval.
But, with Togara ineligible, Ngodzo will have to take his place at rightback and hope for an improved show on Saturday.
Left back, Qadr Amin, is settling down well at FC Platinum and reports indicated that El-Merreikh were charmed by his performance at Rufaro and were considering signing him.
FC Platinum showed character to come back twice from behind and salvage a draw.
The Zvishavane side also received a huge boost at the weekend for their confidence when they beat Black Mambas 3-1 in a tough Premiership tie at Morris Depot.
Crucially, FC Platinum are yet to lose a game this season — winning the two pre-season games against Motor Action and Hwange on their way to success in the Bob 88 Super Cup, winning both their Champions League preliminary round ties against Green Mamba of Swaziland, drawing against El-Merreikh and beating Black Mambas.
That good run should give them confidence that they can battle for a result in Sudan and, clearly, pressure has been lifted from their shoulders and it’s now weighing heavily on El-Merreikh.
The good money is on El-Merreikh to win but that comes with pressure, especially when playing at home, and an FC Platinum goal will send the cat among the
pigeons in Sudan.
They have the power to get a goal, or goals, and Charles Sibanda has started the season well while Ali Sadiki has also been impressive while midfielder, Allan Gahadzikwa, has a good goal-scoring record.
Team
T Dube,T Mudzamiri,Z Ngodzo,Q Amin,D Veremu,G Banda,C Kamhapa,A Sadiki,A Gahadzika,M Katsvairo,J Ngodzo,W Ndiweni, K Banda,R Nenzou,T Kamusoko,Matawu,C Sibanda
Online Reporter