Pirates wary of FCP

Raymond Jaravaza

ORLANDO Pirates coach Micho Sredojevic is wary of the threat posed by his African Champions League opponents FC Platinum when the two sides go head-to-head in the elite continental competition.

Sredojevic does not even shy away from heaping praise on FC coach Norman Mapeza.

“They (FC Platinum) are the debutants in the group stages and they are not attractive by name, but their coach . . . Mapeza has done extremely well to guide them to the championship in Zimbabwe.

“This is a team with an incredible amount of motivation, one that will give us a hard time because we are neighbours.

“One of the biggest problems facing them is logistics. They are in the middle of Harare and Bulawayo, so reaching there won’t be easy. Our first match is away to them,” he told South African publication — Soccer Laduma.

FC Platinum will now host Orlando Pirates at Barbourfields Stadium on January 12.

The group also features defending African champions Esperance of Tunisia and Horoya AC of Guinea.

FC Platinum reached the group stages after getting part CNaPS Sport of Madagascar in the preliminary round and Congo’s AS Otoho in the final qualifying round.

This is the first time Pure Platinum Play will be taking part in the group stages of the competition after two previous failed attempts.