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Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza has cast a shadow on the competitiveness of local Premiership sides to compete against top teams in the Confederation of African Football inter-club competitions.
Mapeza says at the moment there is no local top-flight side that has the pedigree to match the kind of competition in the Champions League and the Confederation Cup.
The former Zimbabwe captain and coach bemoaned the country’s failure to produce young quality players in the past couple of years.
He believes that the failure to identify and nurture talent has negatively impacted the competitiveness of local teams, who have resultantly struggled to go beyond the preliminary round phases of the tournaments.
“There is no local club that is ready to really compete in the CAF Champions League or any other continental games. I think we are a little bit behind in terms of everything,” Mapeza said.
“That’s my opinion; I don’t know what other people think.
“We tend to have high expectations and be forced to go there because we will be seeking to give players that exposure and experience, but in the past five years our league has not been producing real quality players.
“It’s either Manica Diamonds gets a player from FC Platinum or FC Platinum gets a player from Highlanders or Scottland will get a player from Simba Bhora.
“It has been all about player exchange between clubs. What about the young stars? Let’s have a proper grassroots programme,” said Mapeza.
He proposed that the local football family should consider having a long-term plan so as to realise ideal achievements in inter-club contests.
“Let’s have a 10-year plan; we need to have sound junior structures.
“If we do that, we will have the quality to compete. Let’s start from somewhere, whether for clubs or national teams, and then we can say, Look, we had 10 years of planning. Where did we get it wrong? Because for now we can’t.
“From here maybe I will need to go get some players, maybe from CAPS United. What about these juniors?
“If we do not get those things in place, there will be nothing for us,” said Mapeza.
Last year, Ngezi Platinum Stars and Dynamos were the country’s representatives in the Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions.
Both clubs failed to reach the tournament’s group stages, with Ngezi being eliminated at the first hurdle when falling to the Democratic Republic of Congo outfit AS Maniema Union.
Dynamos were marginally better, but they were sent tumbling out in the Confederation Cup second round by Botswana’s Orapa United.
DeMbare are back in the Confederation Cup this year after their successful defence of the Chibuku Super Cup title.
Simba Bhora, who underwent a significant squad overhaul during the off-season, with several key players and championship-winning coach Tonderai Ndiraya departing for rivals Scottland.
Ndiraya took with him some of the players who were instrumental in the club’s success, including Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona, Tymon Machope, Tichaona Chipunza, and Mthokhozisi Msebe.
Ex-Dynamos assistant coach Joel Luphahla will now take charge of Simba Bhora as they make their Champions League bow with the Shava side still eager to make their mark on the continent.
Simba Bhora have taken their pre-season preparations to Polokwane in South Africa. The training camp, which reportedly included some high-intensity drills, tactical sessions, and friendly matches against South African sides, has left Luphahla optimistic.
But as Mapeza, who reached the group stage with FC Platinum, warns, it will not be an easy ride for both Simba Bhora and Dynamos.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter