Tarumbwa warns FC Platinum of Kenya opponents

Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
BANTU ROVERS striker Obadiah Tarumbwa has said FC Platinum should brace for a bruising encounter against Kenyan Confederation Cup representatives, Sofapaka when the two clubs meet in the tournament’s opening round on February 13-15.

The Zvishavane side were drawn against the East Africans in a draw held on Monday morning in Cairo, Egypt.

Tarumbwa played for the Kenyan side in 2012 before leaving for South Africa where he turned out for Pretoria University.

In an interview yesterday, 24 hours after Norman Mapeza’s lads were drawn to play against Sofapaka, Tarumbwa described the Kenyans as a competitive side. He said they played running football and preferred the 4-4-2 formation.

He said while a number of players he played with had left, he was sure that they had found equally good replacements who would cause FC Platinum all sorts of problems.

“They are good side, one of the top teams in Kenya. They play running football.

“While a number of guys who were around during my time have left, there are still some from the Democratic Republic of Congo and others who play for the Kenya national team,” said Tarumbwa.

He said FC Platinum should send an advance party to ensure they are not ill-treated.

Tarumbwa said Sofapaka’s preferred pitch was worse than Rufaro Stadium’s artificial surface.

“It is a hard surface to play on, FC Platinum could find themselves with several injuries after the game. It is worse than our own Rufaro Stadium,” said Tarumbwa.

FC Platinum have a couple of players with international experience at both youth level and senior.

Some of their players have even played continental football.

Thabani Kamusoko, Daniel Vheremu, Raphael Muduviwa, Donald Ngoma, Kevin Moyo, Wisdom Mutasa and Walter Musona are expected to take the bull by the horns when the tournament starts.

FC Platinum are lucky in that they will start away from home and their hosts knowing that there is still a trip to Zimbabwe would not afford to treat the Zvishavane giants badly.

Fixtures:

MC Alger (Algeria) v Sahel SC (Niger)

RS Berkane (Morocco) v Onze Créateurs (Mali)

Al Ittihad (Libya) v Elect-Sport (Chad)

Al Ghazal (South Sudan) v Petrojet (Egypt)

Unisport Bafang (Cameroon) v Olympique de Ngor (Senegal)

Hearts of Oak (Ghana) v AS Police (Benin)

ASO Chlef (Algeria) v Kamboi Eagles (Senegal)

Horoya (Guinea) v Fassell (Liberia)

Leones Vegetarianos (Equatorial Guinea) v Dolphins (Nigeria)

Côte d’Or (Seychelles) v Dedebit (Ethiopia)

RC Bobo (Burkina Faso) v Warri Wolves (Nigeria)