FC PLATINUM jet off for the first leg of the Orange CAF Confederation Cup against Sofapaka FC of Kenya on Friday morning with the hope of scoring away goals to cushion them for the return leg.
THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The Zvishavane team will take the 385km journey to Harare early on Friday where they are expected to connect to Nairobi, Kenya, the same morning.
Their flight aboard the Kenyan Airways is scheduled to take off at 11am and arrive around 4pm at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport.
FC Platinum media liaison officer Chido Chizondo said the team would leave early so as to acclimatise.
“We are leaving on Friday so that the players will have a day to get used to the place and get a feel of the weather, which we understand is almost the same as ours,” she said.
Sofapaka — short for Sote kama Familia kwa Pamoja Kuafikia Azimio which is Swahili for “we as a family together to achieve a goal” — are based in Nairobi and their home ground is the 30 000-seater Nyayo National Stadium.
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Chizondo said the FC Platinum players were excited and looking forward to the match.
“There is excitement in the camp,” she said.
“We have not travelled as a team outside Zimbabwe since 2012 and the boys are excited and confident they will do well in Kenya. “The coaches are also hyped about the trip.”
FC Platinum have been under the guidance of assistant Patrick Mandizha as head gaffer Norman Mapeza was attending the Caf A Licence coaching course in Harare.
Veteran skipper Thabani Kamusoko said they were hoping for a positive result.
Kamusoko played in the 2012 squad that bowed out in the second round of the competition to El Merreikh of Sudan under the guidance of Rahman Gumbo. Other players who were in the team include Daniel Veremu, Donald Ngoma and Allen Gahadzikwa.
FC Platinum acquired the services of Brian Muzondiwa, Emmanuel Mandiranga, Wellington Kamudyariwa and Nigel Papius.
Platinum’s last friendly was against Highlanders on Saturday which ended in a 1-1 draw, but saw Ngoma and Tatenda Dzumbunu limp off due to injuries.
Both are expected to make the final 18-member squad for Friday’s trip after an assessment by the team’s doctors.
Their opponents, the GOtv Shield Cup holders, will this evening take on Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia at the Nyayo National Stadium in the DStv Super Cup in what will be a curtain raiser for the 2015 season.
Gor begin their African Champions League campaign on Saturday at home to Madagascar’s champions CNaPS, while Sofapaka, who will be flying the country’s flag in the Caf Confederation Cup, will host FC Platinum of Zimbabwe on Sunday. Both matches will be played at Nyayo Stadium.
Sofapaka head into today’s contest as firm favourites going by their solid display against visiting Zambian side Power Dynamos, whom they beat 1-0 Power Dynamos, coached by former Platinum coach Tennant Chilumba, had been due to play the Zimbabwean side early last month but the trip was called off.
Former Gor Mahia playmaker Kevin “Ade” Omondi swept home the lone goal that earned his side the morale-boosting win over the Zambians.
FC Platinum Caf Confederation Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Petros Mhari, Francis Tizayi
Defenders: Daniel Vheremu, Qadr Amin, Raphael Mudhuviwa, Aaron Katebe, Gift Bello, Ian Nekati, Kelvin and Elvis Moyo
Midfielders: Simon Shoko, Tatenda Dzumbunu, Wisdom Mutasa, Thabani Kamusoko, Walter Musona, Brian Muzondiwa, Allen Gahadzikwa, Marshall Mudewe, Wellington Kamudyariwa, R Sibanda
Strikers: Obrey Chirwa, Donald Ngoma, Nelson Maziwisa, Nigel Papias, Emmanuel Mandira
