Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
AHEAD of their penultimate Caf Champions League group stage encounter, FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza is equally concerned by his team’s failure to score as he is worried by the number of goals they have conceded in the four matches they have played so far.
The Zimbabwean champions have failed to hit the target in the group stage while their defence has been breached five times. FC Platinum are the bottom of their group with just a point secured from a 0-0 draw against Orlando Pirates in January. They have since then been beaten twice by Horoya and lost once to defending champions Esperance who they play at Mandava Stadium on 16 March.
With their chances of heading to the next stage of the competition slim, Mapeza is also looking for improvements in all departments. He is seeking to tighten his defence as he also looks to sharpen his strike force as he searches for his first win in this stage of Africa’s premier club competition.
“Solving the whole team, not that department (strike force) only, we have been conceding as well. We want to improve in all areas, starting from defence, midfield and attack. We need to get a positive result, we play all our games to win,” Mapeza said.
FC Platinum head off to South Africa on Wednesday for the clash against the 1995 African club champions at Orlando Stadium under floodlights on Friday.
What should give the two-times in a row Zimbabwean champions some hope of securing the three points is the fact that they held the Sea Robbers to a nil all draw at a packed Barbourfields Stadium where the visitors enjoyed the bulk of the support.
Pirates will however, not be easy to conquer at home, seeing that they have collected four points in Soweto with a 3-0 win over Horoya followed by a 0-0 stalemate against Esperance.
Mapeza has all his players fit and ready for selection, which means he will be able to take the strongest possible team for the trip across the Limpopo River. — @Mdawini_29
derick.khumalo