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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter

FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza says his team is not ready to take part in the Confederation of Africa Football Champions League.

The four-time champions were however not going to participate in the Caf Champions League even if they were ready because of Zimbabwe’s suspension by Fifa.

Mapeza feels the absence from the Champions League could be an opportunity to build a team that can compete at that level.

“It’s sad for our football but l have to be honest, as much as we want to compete in the Caf Champions League, we are still lagging behind. If Zimbabwe was not suspended by Fifa we were going to play but deep down in my heart l know we are not ready for that stage. I have seen top teams in Africa and we are not at that level,” said Mapeza.

“If you look at Morocco and where they are in terms of football, they are too far away. What their national team did at the World Cup shows a clear picture of the work they are doing. We are still far behind.”
Mapeza said his side needs time to grow before they can compete at continental level.

“Of course we want to go to the African Safari but does it make sense for us to go out there and get hammered five six goals, what will people say? We are not yet ready. We have to start from somewhere and go step by step up the ladder. In football, it’s like a graph you start from stage zero going up.

FC Platinum head coach Norman Mapeza

“We don’t want to go there when l still feel we are not there yet. We can talk of getting experience but do you think you can get experience when you get hammered 10, psychologically you all get affected.

“The squad we had in 2018 l feel if they were still here we could have gone far but these guys we have now are still young. There will be time l feel now we have a squad that can go there and gives us what we want,” said Mapeza.

FC Platinum fine tuning in Bulawayo

The former Zimbabwe Warriors captain indicated that he is pleased with his new signings. He said there will be no departures but maybe two or three additions to the squad.

FC Platinum who have since parted ways with William Stima, Blessing Moyo, Nigel Makumbe, Onifade Abubakar Temitope and Evidence Tendayi who has been training in Bulawayo. Pure Platinum Play have reunited with Perfect Chikwende who left Bulawayo Chiefs. Jarrison Selemani (25) and left back Misheck Ngwenya (24) have also signed for the Zimbabwean champions. Selemani joined Platinum from Cranborne Bullets and Ngwenya was once with Triangle United. — @innocentskizoe