Mapeza plots win
VENUE: Lat Dior Stadium in Thiès, Dakar
DATE: Sunday February 21, 2021
TIME: 6pm (Zim time)
HAVING lost the first leg of the Caf Confederations Cup group stage qualifier at home, FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza says his charges have no choice but to attack ASC Jaraaf and get a victory that will see them progress to the next stage.
The two teams meet tomorrow in the decisive second leg match at the Lat Dior Stadium in Thiès, just outside the capital Dakar.
Kick-off is 6pm Zimbabwean time.
FC Platinum will be hoping to improve on their conversion after they wasted numerous opportunities in the first leg at the National Sports Stadium at the weekend, including missing from a penalty spot before falling to a 1-0 defeat.
A 1-0 win for FC Platinum will force the match to a penalty shootout, while any other victory for the Zimbabwe champions will see them progress to the group stages of the continental lower-tier club competition.
Speaking to the media yesterday evening via Zoom, to preview the match, Mapeza said he would go all out to try and get the needed win.
“We were not very adventurous in terms of creativity in the final third, and that is what we have been talking to them about,” he said.
“We will keep telling them about remaining positive and to fight for this brand FC Platinum. We are not just representing FC Platinum, but the whole nation, so it’s very important for us to go out there with a positive mind.”
The coach said there was an element of frustration among the players at being unable to win the first leg in a game they dominated from start to finish.
However, he said the players were now over the disappointment and raring to go.
“We know the challenge we are going to face. It’s not going to be easy for us, but I have been talking to the boys about the importance of staying positive and having self belief and confidence,” the Pure Platinum Play gaffer said.
“This team came to Harare and managed to beat us, so we can also do the same. I’m very positive that come Sunday we will get a positive result.”
Mapeza would be forced to make changes to his line-up after the club’s vice-captain Kelvin Madzongwe picked an injury at training this week, and is expected to be out for a month.
Striker Stanley Ngala is expected to pass a late fitness test, while William Stima is still out.
The good news is that Rahman Kutsanzira, who missed the last game, trained with the team and is expected to feature in the match.
Mapeza also spoke about his new acquisitions, which he said needed more time to adapt.
FC Platinum announced the arrival of five new players to their squad just a few days before meeting Jaraaf, with four of them — Donald Ngoma, Innocent Mucheneka, Rodwell Chinyengetere and Donald Teguru — given a run against the West Africans.
They all looked off the pace. Blessing Moyo did not feature.
“They need time (to adapt). They haven’t been playing football for a long time and if there is no football, there won’t be any sharpness. But so far so good, I can’t complain much. I know where they are coming from. For me to judge them from their contribution in one game won’t be fair. They need to be involved week in and out for them to regain their form and to be sharp,” Mapeza said.
Unlike their last trip outside the country when they received horror treatment by their hosts Simba SC of Tanzania, Mapeza said they had been well received in Senegal.
He said this has helped the players to remain focused.
The team, which arrived in Dakar on Wednesday, underwent COVID-19 tests protocols yesterday and results are expected today.
Silas Songani spurned the best chance for FC Platinum in the first leg when his penalty was saved, while defender Gift Bello failed to score from a yard out with the last kick of the match.
Despite carrying what looks a good advantage, Jaraaf are still wary of FC Platinum.
The team captain Madické Kane said even though they managed to win in Harare, they still had a big job on their hands if they were to qualify for the next stage.
A draw is enough for the Senegalese side to progress to the group stages.
However, Kane said they would go out for an outright win.
“Now that we have had a good result away, we still have to make sure that we win the second match to validate the qualification for the group stages. The objective remains the same for Jaraaf: to win the championship (Ligue 1) and to qualify for the group stage phase of the Caf Confederations Cup,” he said.