The Sunday News
Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Tunis, Tunisia
FC PLATINUM coach, Norman Mapeza, has refused to throw in the towel after his charges lost by two goals to nil against Total Caf Champions League holders, Esperance, at the Stade Olympique d’El Menzeh here in Tunisia on Friday afternoon.
Pure Platinum Play, who drew nil all with 1995 winners Orlando Pirates at Barbourfields Stadium last Saturday, found themselves two goals down when Khenisisi Taha was twice on target for the hosts with goals in the 24th minute and 65th minute, the first a rising shot from the box after the visiting defence failed to clear their lines, and the second a header after some poor marking.
“I don’t think we are out of the race this early in the competition, we just derailed on our journey but we will get back on the rail, there is still four more games to play,” said Mapeza during a sober interview at the five- star El Mourade hotel where the team set up base.
He said the way of doing business in such competitions was to make sure a team fully utilises its home advantage and push to get at least a draw on the road, emphasising that a win will be a huge bonus to the cause. They take on Horoya early next month in a game that ought to be a must win if the dream of a quarterfinal appearance is to remain a reality. Mapeza agrees.
“We now need to make full use of our home advantage, collect maximum points but that does not mean we are putting ourselves under pressure, no, we don’t want to do that,” he said.
He becried the collapse of their game plan against Esperance, who celebrated their 100 years of existence on January 15. “Muchina wemajuzi”, as the reigning Coach of the Year was nicknamed during his illustrious footballing career that catapulted him from the local scene to Europe where he turned out for Galatasaray, said their game plan was to close shop for the Tunisians and then catch them on a counter attack.
“We came here with a game plan, which was to shut the shop and then get them on the break. I think we did well in that regards but the final transition from the back to attack was missing, we could have done better. We also could have avoided unnecessary set pieces which we knew Esperance were good at and it was through such an eventuality that they finally got their second goal, having had their free kick defended well which, however, resulted in a corner kick. So those are areas we will have to work on,”said Mapeza.
The Zimbabwe champions left Tunisia yesterday afternoon and put up in Dubai where they will connect to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Zambia today enroute to Harare. Club president, George Mawere, is part of the travelling delegation.
