Milton Mashasha Sports Reporter in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
(News of The South) – The ZIMBABWEAN Reigning Champions FC Platinum return to the Giant National Sports Stadium this Wednesday afternoon the 23rd of December 2020 to face the Tanzanian giants Simba SC in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions league match.
The Zvishavane based outfit FCP who progressed to the second preliminary round after emphatically beating Costa Do Sol of Mozambique 2-1 in Maputo and went on to finish them 2-0 in Harare, Zimbabwe winning the tie on a 4-1 aggregate.
It was a good start for Norman Mapeza after bouncing back at FCP as head coach. Mapeza took over the reigns at FC Platinum after the latter board and management terminated their former coach’s contract Hendricks Pieter Di Jongh by mutual consent due to circumstances and reasons beyond both parties’s control.
Mapeza who is likely to face a stiff challenge from the Tanzanian representatives in the CAF Champions league, Simba SC who booked their place in the second preliminary round after eliminating Plateau United of Nigeria.
The Tanzanian giants Simba SC have got an advantage over the Zimbabwean champions. Due to covid 19 outbreak early this year, all sporting activities were suspended in Zimbabwe hence the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League were not spared, no football activity was carried out since then, meaning the first preliminary round for FCP against Costa Do Sol was their first competitive match for the Reigning Zimbabwean champions whilst their counterpart Simba SC were active through out since their league was not interrupted of which Simba SC players are physical syched and very fit for the match as compared to FCP players.
Norman Mapeza inherited a well assembled squad with naturally talented players who can win the match for him in a good day but endurance matters most above all.
Some of his players were called up for national(duty) team assessment by the national team head coach the Croatian Zdravko Logarusic for the Chan finals competitions in Cameroon next year but due to CAF commitment FCP could not afford to release them. The likes of their goalkeeper Petros Mhari, pint sized diminutive right back Raphael Muduviwa,the hard tackling defensive link man Kelvin Madzongwe, the enterprising attacking midfielder maestro Silas Songani and their striker Stanley Ngala were the notable names in Zdravko’s list.
FC Platinum are expected to travel to Da es Salaam, Tanzania for the return fixture between the 4th and the 5th of January 2021.
@lesego.
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