FC PLATINUM head coach Norman Mapeza is facing a herculean task of overturning a first round first leg 5-1 deficit suffered at the hands of Young Africans when they host the Tanzanians in the reverse fixture of the Caf Confederation Cup football tournament at Mandava on Saturday.
BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
Platinum have struggled for fluency since that loss and drew 2-2 at home against Dongo Sawmills in the opening match of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season last Saturday before losing 1-0 to Caps United in Harare on Sunday.
“We are going to play to get a positive result against Young Africans. Everyone knows what we want to achieve. “We will not give the players pressure that we have to overturn the first leg result we will just play our normal game and see what happens at the end of the day.
“Only God knows our destiny but for us we will put maximum effort to get a result we want,” said Mapeza. The platinum miners have not been at their best on the local front either, collecting just one point out of a possible six.
However, in earlier interview with this publication Mapeza insisted that continental football has nothing to do with the local game.
“The Caf Confederation Cup has nothing to do with the local premiership it is a different competition altogether,” he said.
Mapeza however, is still hopeful of beating the East Africans at home, but is unsure if he can still overturn a four goal deficit. This time he will be boasted by the presence of Donald Ngoma upfront who missed the first leg and midfielder Wisdom Mutasa who played with a bout of influenza in Tanzania will be back from a temporary illness.
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Young Africans have won their last three league matches in the top flight, beating Kagera Sugar 2-1, JKT Mgambo 2-0 and Ruvu Stars 3-1 last Wednesday. They were inactive over the weekend as national team; the Taifa Stars were playing in an international friendly.
Yanga, as they are affectionately known, lead the standings with 40 points from 19 matches, seven ahead of defending champions Anzam, who have played two games less.
