Green Machine brace for Africa’s finest Mazembe players miss out
CAPS UNITED could face Khama Billiat and his Mamelodi Sundowns in the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
The Green Machine have joined defending champions Sundowns, Zanaco (Zambia) and Champions League debutants Ferroviario Beira of Mozambique who are basking in a fairy-tale.
Ironically, CAPS and Ferrovirraio de Beira played a friendly international to prepare for this tournament.
With teams such as Al Ahly, Zamalek (Egypt), Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya), Etoile du Sahel, Esperance, (Tunisia), USM Alger (Algeria) and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the mix, it is likely that the Green Machine could get at least two trips to the region during the minileague.
Their coach Lloyd Chitembwe remained positive.
“We want to enjoy, but we obviously set ourselves targets. There is nothing wrong with dreaming. This is the reason why we work hard every day and it’s our dream to win the tournament.
“This is the reason why we are in there competing, fighting and working hard as we have been doing. So we want to see how far we can go, but I strongly believe we have a big say,” said Chitembwe.
Makepekepe are in pot four together with neighbours Zanaco and Ferroviario and Ethiopia’s St. Georges which means they will not meet any of the three in the group.
According to the CAF rankings, Al Ahly of Egypt with 45 points and their compatriots Zamalek who have 36 points will lead in pot A that also has Etoile du Sahel and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
Pot B has Al Hilal (Sudan), Esperance, Wydad Casablanca and USM Alger while Oscar Machapa’s AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Coton Sport,
Paul Mundandi Sports Reporter
AS the Zimbabwe men’s national basketball team gears up for the AfroBasket championships play-offs after going down to Mozambique, captain Taurai Chitsinde says they need to up their game.
Chitsinde, however, pointed out that between now and the play-offs they need to correct the mistakes.
“Well, firstly preparation, secondly we need to learn from this game. We need to learn from Mozambique. We need to learn from their style of play and we learnt that at this level of basketball, you get a chance and make use of it.
“We got punished for turnovers, when we miss they don’t miss, they score. When we don’t run they run. So all of those are lessons and things that we need to do better going forward,” said Chitsinde. TP MAZEMBE players missed out on a chance to drive away in brand new vehicles at the weekend after they failed to beat CAPS United in a CAF Champions League first round tie at the National Sports Stadium.
The club owner Moise Katumbi had made the promise as an incentive for his side to qualify to the mini-league stage of the tournament.
Katumbi cancelled his Harare trip at the last-minute.
He had called on TP Mazembe fans in Zambia, Malawi and South Africa to travel to Zimbabwe to support his men.
The club’s vice- president Mohamed Kamwanga revealed that his boss had dangled the big carrot.
“Our president texted a message to me and promised to buy a new vehicle to each player and the technical team if we had qualified for
Al Ahly Tripoli and Al Marreikh are in pot C.
Group phase matches are due to start on May 12.
There are improved prizes this year with the teams that made the last 16 assured of at least a $550 000 pay cheque.
Makepekepe vice-captain Hardlife Zvirekwi was on cloud nine following the hard-fought result against TP Mazembe and believes team spirit will take them far in the competition.
“I’m so excited. It’s massive for us, it’s big. The team worked hard to be where they are right now. It all goes down to the team spirit within the group.
“We were united for one cause. Ever since we started the season the Champions League group stage.
“That was going to be a huge bonus to each player besides the money they were going to get. It’s unfortunate we lost the match to CAPS United and that is what we call football,” said Kamwanga.
CAPS coach Lloyd Chitembwe’s mother, Josephine, yesterday hailed the football fraternity for supporting her son.
“I would like to thank all the fans in this country and outside. I am very proud of those who made it to the National Sports Stadium to support CAPS United which is coached by my son Lloyd.
“I was touched when I saw Dynamos and CAPS United flags tied together. It showed maturity and I would like to say a big thank you to Dynamos, Highlanders and all the supporters from the different teams in Zimbabwe for rallying behind Makepekepe.
“It showed that we are maturing as a nation.”
last year this has been our goal. I think we have achieved the first part of it and obviously we are aiming high to go all the way,” said Zvirekwi.
Zimbabwe’s Ngezi Platinum were among the casualties of the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Recreativo Libolo of Angola.
USM Alger (Algeria), Al Merreikh (Sudan), Etoile du Sahel (Tunisia), Esperance (Tunisia), Al Ahly Tripoli ( Libya), Sundowns ( South Africa), Wydad Casablanca (Morocco), Zanaco (Zambia), Ferroviario de Beira (Mozambique), Zamalek (Egypt), AS Vita Club (DRC), Coton Sport (Cameroon), Al Ahly (Egypt), CAPS United (Zimbabwe), St. Georges (Ethiopia), Al Hilal (Sudan)