Sink or swim for caps utd . . .Can the Zim champs upset African giants TP Mazembe?

ZIMBABWE champions Caps United will on Sunday march into the cauldron of the National Sports Stadium seeking to again upset African football giants TP Mazembe in a potentially explosive CAF Champions League first round, second leg tie.

The first legA� played in Lubumbashi last Sunday saw the Green Machine grind a positive one-all draw against the star-studded Democratic Republic of Congo club to keep their hopes of making it to the group stages of the competition.

CAPS has a big chance of progressing to the group stagesA� of the competition as a goalless draw in the second leg will be good enough because they earned a crucial away goal.

a�?Ita��s a big match and we must stay focused for the entire 90 minutes. TP Mazembe are African giants who can always grind a result to their favour. We need everyonea��s support. Zimbabweans should come in their numbers and intimidate our opponents,a�? pleaded Makepekepe skipper Moses Muchenje whose club set a target of reaching the group stages of the lucrative money-spinning competition.

The Green Machine, whoA� have dependable goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda, skillful Ronald Chitiyo, Amidu, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Devon Chafa and Joel a�?Jostaa�? Ngodzo to bank on,A� participated in the inter club contest in 1997, 2005 and 2006 where they failed to reach the group stage of the tournament with their best achievement being qualification into the second round twice.

Caf has cut the two-legged qualifying phase from three rounds to two and the group stage has been expanded from eight to 16 teams, divided into four groups of four clubs. The 16 winners of the first round advance to the group stage, while the 16 losers of the first round enter the Confederation Cup play-off round.

In the event Caps qualifies for the group stage, they are guaranteed to pocket $550 000, being money given for finishing fourth and third in the group.

The semi-finalists will get $875 000 while all the quarter finalists are guaranteed of $650 000. The runner-ups take home $1 250 000 as compared to last yeara��sA� $1 million.

The total cash prize for the 2017 champions has been increased from $1,5m to $2,5m.

Meanwhile, Ngezi Platinum face Angolaa��s Recreativo do Libolo of Angola inA� Caf Confederation Cup first round, second leg match at National Sports Stadium on Saturday.

The reverse fixture ended 2-1 in favour of theA� Angolans.

The Mhondoro-based club beatA� Pamplemousses of Mauritius in a two-legged preliminary round.

The 16 winners of the first round advance to the play-off round, where they are joined by the 16 losers of the Champions League first round.

The 16 winners of the play-off round advance to the group stage.