Makepekepe, Ngezi date vicious TP Mazembe, Libolo

Fungai Muderere
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe is confident that his charges will on Sunday defy odds when he goes for battle against Democratic Republic of Congoaï¿½ï¿½s TP Mazembe in a Caf Champions League preliminary round first leg match.

A star-studded TP Mazembe are the five-time Caf Champions League winners and current Confederations Cup champions.

aï¿½?We have done our homework. Iaï¿½ï¿½m sure we can safely say we are ready. I have so much confidence in the boys. We respect our opponents but I believe as CAPS United we have what it takes to beat TP Mazembe,aï¿½? said Chitembwe.

CAPS United knocked Lesotho champions Lioli FC out of the inter club football contest after drawing 0-0 away in Maseru before winning 2-1 at home.

The Zimbabwe champions went into a partnership with Rainbow Airlines and are travelling to Lubumbashi on a chartered plane on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Zimbabweaï¿½ï¿½s Caf Confederation Cup representatives Ngezi Platinum who recently accounted for Pamplenousses of Mauritiusaï¿½ï¿½s exit will on Saturday square off against Recreativo do Libolo of Angola in what is also a tough hurdle for the local Premiership newcomers.

The first round, first leg encounterAï¿½ is set for Angolaaï¿½ï¿½s Calulo Municipal Stadium in Cuanza Sul Province.

aï¿½?We are going there to fight. We are a very small club but we need a positive result in Angola. The most important thing is that we go there with an equal chance of being successful,aï¿½? Ngezi Platinum coach Tonderai Ndiraya said.

Recreativo do Libolo, who were handed a bye in the preliminary round of the continentaï¿½ï¿½s second biggest club football tournament, will expect to get a good result at home with the second leg coming up at the National Sports Stadium on March 18.

The ambitious side, which is also famously known in Angola for its basketball side, is making its return to the Caf Confederation Cup for the first time since 2009 when they were knocked out at the same stage of the competition.

Last year Recreativo were knocked out in the first round of the Caf Champions League after suffering a 2-0 aggregate defeat to Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly.

Last year Zimbabweaï¿½ï¿½s representatives Chicken Inn and Harare City did not go far. The Gamecocks were knocked out in the Preliminary round by Mamelodi Sundowns while Harare City knocked out AS Adema of Madagascar before hitting a brick wall in the first round against Zanaco of Zambia. . .