adminPhineas Mukwazo Recently in Zvishavane
KENYA’S Sofapaka Football Club who were dumped out of the Caf Confederations Cup by FC Platinum say they have got no hard feelings but were overly impressed by their opponents and Zimbabwe’s hospitality. Norman Mapeza’s side sailed through to the next round of the continental cup following a 2-1 victory at Mandava Stadium last weekend thanks to a brace by Wisdom Mutasa. The visitors got their consolation at the first goal of the game through Fiston Rizak.
The win saw FC Platinum progress on a 4-2 aggregate win after they beat the same team away from home again on a 2-1 scoreline.
In a wide ranging interview after last weekend’s encounter, Sopafaka general and a native of Italy Andrea Mencarelli was overly full of praises for their opponents, and country.
“Their approach was very good, with good intensity, and good motivation too. The first half was so exciting with good football from both teams. They both played well in the first half,’’ said Mencarelli, who disclosed that he was also a Fifa registered player agent.
“In the second half tiredness creeped in our play as we had travelled one day before the match. An in the second half FC Platinum was full of running and they duly beat us. I think we lost this qualification tie back at home when they beat us.
“I am a true football person and if the truth is to be said your team (Platinum) is a good side, well organised, and they have a good coach in Mapeza,’’ said the Italian.
“They play is centered on the wings, and they have got speed players. Their wing play made it difficult for us, they were better than us especially in the second half, but were not stronger than us. They should improve on their physique. In the first half we saw good movement of the foot (ball); they were all organised congratulations to the team.
“If Platinum play with the same intensity they will have a good chance of progressed beyond the next round,’’ said Mencarelli.
He was also full of praises for the stadium, and country for its hospitality.
“They have a very nice stadium, and congratulations to Zimbabwe for that. The crowd was also very hot.”
Asked whether they had any complaints about how the match was played and the reception from the host team, Mencarelli said:
“Sofapaka is the most famous team in Kenya largely through our being polite. That is because we come from a church background.
“We pray before and after our games thanking God for our very existence. We are happy when we win and we are gracious when we lose that’s why we congratulate our opponents. Hooliganism is not part of our set up.”
On travelling by air from Harare to Bulawayo and the long trip by road to FC Platinum, Mencarelli said they had no misgivings about that but that gave them the opportunity to see some parts of the country that others can only dream off.
“Travelling all the way here (Zvishavane) gave us a great opportunity to know this part of the country. I love your country. And we are happy that football gives us the opportunity to be here.
“We were also impressed by the accommodation and hospitality at this hotel (Pote Hill Lodge). Why cry about playing in Harare when one can get some such opportunity to come to other parts of this beautiful country?”
As a final parting shot and on coach Mapeza, he said:
“He is a good coach who has built a good team in the right way, and winning matches through wing play. I liked his type of play, so full of individual flair although he should work on the physical aspect and endurance of his players. Who is he and were did he come from?’’
To which I replied that he is a former Zimbabwean player who have played for such big clubs overseas including Galatasaray in Turkey. He was only the second Zimbabwean player to play in the Uefa Champions League appearing in the competition with Galatasaray in the 1990s. And that he was the country’s national Under-23 Head Coach and the Zimbabwe national team coach.
Online Reporter