FCP arrives in Madagascar | The herald

Mukudzei Chingwere Sports Reporter
AFTER a compelling campaign on the national front, FC Platinum should show that it has become major when it will begin its adventure in the Champions League tomorrow. The miners from Zvishavane arrived in Madagascar yesterday afternoon. The coach Norman Mapeza said he was pleased with the warm welcome reserved for CNAPS Sports, their preliminary round opponent.

Although they have downplayed their pedigree, FC Platinum seems to be a stronger team than last season.

Mapeza and his men said they arrived safely and were well received in Antananarivo.

While FC Platinum has won two consecutive championships, its latest triumph being 13 points ahead of the closest rival, the Ngezi Platinum, the Champions League is a different step and the men of Mapeza must show their courage .

Last year, they lost to the same competition in the first hurdle after consecutive defeats against the Angolan giant Primeiro Agosto.

Primeiro Agosto then went on to qualify for the semi-finals before being controversially eliminated by the Tunisian giant Esperance, in circumstances that resulted in the CAF ban for the Zambian referee. Janny Sikhazwe.

Although they have pbaded the stage of the first round, it is a nightmare for FC Platinum, they seem to be much more powerful than the teams that have represented Zimbabwe on previous occasions.

Mapeza declined any discussion suggesting that he was going into combat with a better prepared arsenal at his disposal, although it was not established immediately if all this was part of some of the games. mind.

"Some people may say that we have an advantage because the competition is approaching the end of the season, but we started playing football in January and staying there for 12 months, it's too much for boys .

"Everyone knows the goals we have set for ourselves, we want to move to the group stage, so we need to move forward. The team is the same, there is no new player since January, they are the same players we have since January, so nothing has changed.

"We just brought two guys (Devon Chafa and Thomas Chideu) three months ago to strengthen the team, so in terms of preparation and preparation for the Champions League, this time and the previous campaign, it's still the same, "said Mapeza. .

The former Warrior coach, however, said that the problem affecting local teams on the continent was the lack of international visibility of the players, which he believes continues to haunt his team, even at the next competition.

"At the end of the day, as a coach, I always think we need to participate in these competitions. It's a little sad when people say we do not have quality (no), it's a matter of experience.

"Look at the team we have now, how many guys are in the national team, how many guys have been with the under-23s, how many guys have been involved in these international competitions?"

"For me as a coach, I do not want to put myself (and) boys under pressure. . . if we get a brilliant positive result if we do not do it for football, I repeat that we do not want to put ourselves under pressure, "he said.

Mapeza traveled with a team of 19 players, but the experienced Rahman Kutsanzira, who remained behind with a swollen ankle, was noted by his absence from the crew that was posed in Madagascar.