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MONOMOTAPA assistant coach Nkululeko Dlamini said he was wary of FC Platinum whom they clash with in the semi-final of the BancABC Sup8r Cup at Barbourfields tommorow. The Zvishavane side has shown that they are not leaving anything to chance and on Wednesday travelled to Bulawayo and back for a training session.
They did the same routine in the quarter-finals against Highlanders when they travelled to Masvingo to train.
However, Monoz, who beat FC Platinum at the same stage in the Mbada Diamonds Cup last year will be hoping to repeat the same feat.
The former goalkeeper, Dlamini, believes Cup games are anyone’s meat.
“It will be a tough game. A Cup game is different from a league match. It can go either way. We have been preparing hard for the match,” said Dlamini.
The club has also been boosted by the recovery from injury of their two key players. Defender Obey Mwerahari and Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo.
The former Warriors goalkeeper’s coach said they were unfazed by the FC Platinum strike force which has some of the best players in the league at the moment.
“We know they have national team players but we believe it is just an opportunity to play in the national team. Our strikers will match them. We have Kuda Musharu, Agrripa Murimba and Ishmael Lawe who are also quality strikers,” he said.
Dlamini also believes his players are motivated by their fine run in another prestigious tournament last year.
“It is an advantage that our players tasted a final last year and they are as a result xmore confident. The players who are playing at this stage for the first time will be motivated by their experienced counterparts.
“The prize money is also enticing that each player is bound to put in his best. We have just been unfortunate as Monoz that every year we lose the majority of our players to other clubs but what is comforting is that this year we managed to assemble a good side,’’ said Dlamini.
For FC Platinum it is a case of revenge when they meet last year’s Mbada Diamonds runners up.
The club’s assistant coach Masimba Dinyero says they know what Monomotapa is capable of doing.
“Last year Monomotapa knocked our team out in the semi-finals of the Mbada Diamonds cup and we are going to revenge on Saturday. We have a full squad and everyone is raring to go. We want to be in the final and we are working hard to deliver good results.
“In 2009 when I was with Shooting Stars we lost to Lengthens in the final and I want to again reach the final,” said Dinyero.
The former Black Mambas and Dynamos player was drafted into the FC Platinum dressing room by his best friend and head coach Lloyd Mutasa.
The club which is soundly financed by Mimosa company has everything at their disposal. What they only lack are probably fans, especially in the mining town where the majority support the traditional team Shabanie Mine.
Dinyero said they hope their players would also guard against complacency.
“In Europe big teams are knocked out by small teams. We know Monoz are rebuilding and it is our wish to remain focused. This is a new game which will be won by scoring goals,” he said.
Since bursting into the Premiership in 2011 the platinum miners are still to lift a major trophy.
The team is expected to be driven by its captain Daniel Veremu who has been playing some good football.
There is a lot of competition in the team at the moment.
Former Hwange goalkeeper Petros Mhari is expected to compete for the first team jersey with Francis Tizayi.
In defence, the Moyo twins Kevin and Elvis are expected to partner Thabani Kamusoko with Raphael Muduviwa taking care of the right back.
Mutasa is spoilt for choice in midfield where he has Allan Gahadzikwa, Ali Sadiki, Joel Ngodzo, Mhleli Sibanda and Obrey Chirwa.
Upfront the coach can field Warriors trio of Nelson Maziwisa, Donald Ngoma and Charles Sibanda.
Online Reporter