Wenslus Murape
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
After a disappointing exit from the CAF Champions League, league champions Ngezi Platinum Stars have set a target of returning to continental club football and have their eyes on shorter route to their objective.
With Zimbabwe having two slots in the African Safari, Ngezi Platinum Stars who were the sole representatives in the CAF Champions League are eager to return to continental football next season.
Ngezi Platinum Stars assistant coach, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva told Zimpapers Sport that after the painful exit from the Champions League the team was geared up for a return to continental football next season.
Mutiwekuziva has been holding fort at training in the absence of head coach Takesure Chiragwi who was away with the national team in Uganda.
“It was a big learning curve for the team and especially the players (Champions League) and the exit gave us a lot of hope.
“From the short stint, the players understood that no stage is big, hence they are prepared to fight and have a second dance.
“After losing in DRC it gave the insight that we can do better than we did. This has been a motivating factor for the players to want to return to African Safari and they geared up for both the Chibuku Super Cup and league challenge,” said the Ngezi Platinum Stars assistant coach.
The platinum miners begin their campaign for the CAF Confederation Cup slot with a date against Bulawayo Chiefs at Baobab Stadium this afternoon in a re-scheduled first round fixture.
After marking their return to domestic competition with a two nil victory Yadah away from home Ngezi Platinum Stars are hoping to carry on the momentum into the knock-out tournament.
The platinum miners lost in the final of the last edition of the Chibuku Super Cup to Dynamos and have set a target of winning the trophy in the current edition.
“As Ngezi Platinum Stars we need to progress to the next round and try to go all the way to the final and do better than we did last year.
“This is a good opportunity for us to return to the African Safari. The Chibuku Super Cup gives us the platform to also return to continental football and with the experience we gained we are confident of returning to the African Safari,” said Mutiwekuziva.
They remain confident of treble this season having already won the Castle Challenge Cup at the start of the season.
Ngezi Platinum currently lie nine points behind leaders Simba Bhora in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer but have a game in hand.
“Our main focus is to have another campaign in the African Safari through either Chibuku or the Castle Lager Premier League and our target and aim is to win both cups,” said Mutiwekuziva.
He admits that it won’t be an easy task facing Bulawayo Chiefs but is confident that the drive within the camp will see his charges progressing to the quarter finals of the tournament.
“It is a good organised team and they are not an easy opponent hence we need to take the game to them and see what happens but we remain confident of progressing to the next round of the competition.
“We have to utilise home advantage and also I am happy with the zeal to return to the Africa Safari by the players that alone is a motivating factor for us going into the match,” said Mutiwekuziva.
Online Reporter