Ngezi shift focus to title defence

Don Makanyanga

Sports Reporter

HAVING sampled just a bit of life in the CAF Champions League, Ngezi Platinum Stars believe they have learnt some valuable lessons, which should now stand them in good stead to revive their Castle Lager Premier Soccer title de-fence.

Ngezi came unstuck at the preliminary round stage after falling 4-3 on penalties to Democratic Republic of Congo outfit AS Maniema. The two sides had remained tied goalless over two legs.

Despite the early exit, Ngezi coach Takesure Chiragwi felt his miners had picked some key lessons that left them in-spired to fight for a return to the Champions League.

“It has been a lesson to us.

“We learnt a lot about how we are supposed to do our work as a team and we will take it from there going forward and improve on our shortcomings.

“This is not the end of the road, it’s a learning curve we keep on learning and we learnt the hard way and we hope to come back strong,” said Chiragwi. It was the first time for both the coach and his club to experience Champions League football and the youthful coach believes Ngezi can only build from their clashes against the Congolese.

“We hoped to sail through but we failed but we appreciate the opportunity.

“We did not want to make numbers, that is the reason we competed until the final whistle, and gave it our best hoping that we would sail through to the second round but unfortunately, we could not do that.

“I think for me as a coach it is my first time to compete at an international level, the CAF Champions League, and I am happy with the way we did our job it is a good way to grow for us as a team and me as a coach,” said Chiragwi.

Chiragwi and his men will not return to domestic duties with Chibuku Super Cup and league assignments awaiting them.

Ngezi are fourth on the Premiership log standings and nine points behind leaders Simba Bhora with a game in hand.

They are yet to play their Chibuku Super Cup first-round assignment.

“We still have games to play, we are still in contention in the league and we also have the Chibuku Super Cup. “All we need is to focus on the domestic competition and make sure that we play to win if not both of the competitions so that we play in the African Safari again,” said Chiragwi. Ngezi are on the road on Saturday when they visit Yadah at the Heart Stadium.