Mapeza Insists All Is Not Lost

FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza is confident his team can still salvage their CAF Confederations cup campaign against Senegalese giants ACS Jaraaf at Stade Lat Dior on Sunday despite losing in the first leg.

Norman Mapeza’s side are at risk of being embarrassingly knocked out of yet another African club competition after trailing 0-1 from the first leg of the CAF Confederations cup play offs.

However, the former Warriors Coach believes FC Platinum have the experience and pedigree to turn around the tables if they can only believe in themselves.

“Not all is lost and my boys have to rise against the tide and believe in themselves that they can pull out a positive result away from home. Most of these players are not new to playing international football away from home and should be ready for any negative factors, ” Mapeza told PanAfricanFootball website.

The Platinum miners are also pinning their hopes on ACS Jaraaf’s form pattern where they overturned first leg result to progress from the preliminary round.

“We also build our hope that our opponents lost at home before winning the last round away from home hence we can ride on that but most importantly we have to rise to the occasion,” said Mapeza.

FC Platinum arrived in Dakar on Wednesday morning via Addis Ababa and have already started acclamatising to the hot and humid semi arid terrains of Senegal.

The Zimbabwean champions will be without the influence of Kelvin Madzongwe and William Stima, but are basing on the experience of veteran midfielder Rodwell Chinyengetere to inspire them to victory.

The Platinum miners need to win the match with more than a goal to progress to the group stages of the CAF Confederations cup.