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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
NGEZI PLATINUM Stars coach Rodwell Dhlakama has raised concern over the distance his charges would have covered by the time they play the Chibuku Super Cup final at Mandava, next week.
The Mhondoro team are set to face rivals FC Platinum in the final of the premier knock-out tournament, on the domestic football scene, on December 4.
While there have been concerns from the Ngezi Platinum Stars corner, given their they will have to face an opponent in their backyard, in the same tournament, for the third time running, Dhlakama is not concerned about the game being at Mandava.
Instead, the former Monomotapa boss knows the distance his team has covered could have an impact on his players.
Ngezi Platinum travelled over 700 kilometres, to and from Bulawayo last week, for a Premiership tie against Highlanders, which didn’t take place, as scheduled, after the suspended ZIFA board withdrew match officials.
They were on the road to Harare, three days later, for their Chibuku Super Cup semi-final tie against Cranborne Bullets, which they won 1-0, covering a distance of approximately 310 kilometres.
Dhlakama’s side are again taking the 700 kilometre round trip journey, for their rescheduled top-flight fixture against Bosso, set for the City of Kings, tomorrow.
They will then take another 290 kilometres to Zvishavane, for their Chibuku Super Cup final, a week later.
“I am not complaining about the choice of the venue for the Chibuku Super Cup final,” said Dhlakama.
“We have played all our group matches at Mandava. We played FC Platinum there twice, winning once 2-1, before losing the second game by the same scoreline.
“So, we are not complaining about the venue.
“My concern is on my players’ physical and mental health, given the distance we have had to travel, and the distance we would have travelled, inside just two weeks, in the run-up to the final.
“I am not a crybaby, though, but I am just saying look, we know that in the best leagues of the world, they play, maybe, twice a week travelling some miles but look at the mode of their transport.
“They don’t spend most of their time travelling by road.
“But, in our case, we are travelling by road and imagine the distance.
“Fatigue is slowly starting to creep in the team but we are a team that means business. We will fight as we always do on the field of play.”
Ngezi opened their Premiership campaign with a 5-0 win over Bulawayo City at Baobab.
They will be hoping to maintain that form against Bosso, the team which beat them, in the Chibuku Super Cup final, in 2019.
“Highlanders are a seasoned team and they are difficult to play against at Barbourfields,’’ said Dhlakama.
“We are expecting a very tough match against them.
“Of course, they are coming from that 0-2 first game defeat against Black Rhinos, while we won our first game, but that means nothing.
“This is a new game altogether but we have prepared well for it. We will go out there and try to play our normal game.
“Highlanders have very good players and their coach is also good and that should make the game an interesting one.”
Ngezi Platinum will be without one of their key players, Wellington Taderera, due to an injury. “It’s a huge blow on our part, we always want to have all our players available but unfortunately, this time, we won’t be with Taderera, who has a knock.
“He is not part of the travelling squad but we hope those who will get a chance to play will be able to deliver.”
Online Reporter