The ManicaPost
MOFFAT MUNGAZI’S FOOTY FOOT NOTES
NOW that Zimbabwe soccer kings FC Platinum have concluded their Caf Champions League campaign and shifted focus to the domestic scene in pursuit of defence of their crown, some followers of the game may find a proper introspection and assessment of their involvement in the continental competition too tempting a proposition to resist.
While the Zvishavane miners have dominated on the local front for the past two successive seasons, the same cannot be said about their forays into the jungles of African football where they have scantily been an impressively aggressive force.
To foreground this discussion, it is imperative to put things into perspective: this is only FC Platinum’s second running in the tournament, having debuted last season where they were humbled and consequently bundled out 5-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round by Angolan side Clube Desportivo Primeiro de Agosto. On the second bite of the cherry this term, coach Norman Mapeza and his charges managed to navigate their way past the elimination stages — the preliminary and first round — to land into the group phases for the first time. It is here that they found the going tough as they huffed and puffed, with precious little to show for their sweat.
Finishing bottom of their Group B pile is such an ignominy. Crunching the numbers will suffice, perhaps: no single win in six home and away games; four losses; two draws; three goals for; nine goals against; a goal difference of minus six and a paltry two points from a possible 18.
Numbers do not lie and these statistical facts and figures show that FC Platinum were the weakest side not only in their pool but across all the tournament’s four groups comprising the remaining 16 teams (Ismaily Sporting Club of Egypt, who finished second in their domestic league but endured an indifferent campaign during this term’s competition given their past exploits in the tournament, endured an almost exactly identical campaign).
There are no freebies here as everything comes at a price. Theirs was perhaps poor, pitiful play — a far cry from their self-styled “pure platinum” standards.
Orlando Pirates (6) — their Southern Africa cousins who were also knocked out at the group stages and finished third, with defending champions Esperance Tunis (14) and Horoya AC (10) advancing — suffered the same fate.
But having never been here before, it was always coming that it would be relatively cumbersome than their past escapades for the Zimbabwe champions although they did not get here through some “scratch and win promotion” or were handpicked, but were contestants on merit.
That said, FC Platinum’s participation in this season’s Caf Champions League came with its fair share of gains and losses, however.
THE GAINS
Exposure and Experience: Crucially, their involvement at another level of the game in the tournament helped them have a feel of the advanced stages. It exposed them to newer, bigger challenges that the experience picked will come in handy by giving them a sense of familiarity going forward into the future.
Progress: Going by their previous campaign, they took a step forward this term which may be taken as a pointer that they are on the path in the right direction.
Rich Pickings: Platinum-quoted shall be their smile as they stroll all the way to the bank since there are princely sums doled out for having reached this stage of the completion.
Although well-resourced and generously funded, earning some extra few dollars from their own exploits on the field is always a bonus that keeps coffers well greased.
Title Defence Leverage: Their elimination might turn out to be a blessing in disguise after all for juggling and fighting on both the domestic and continental fronts was likely to take a huge toll on the strength in depth of their squad. While the local league has just kicked off, the defending champions already have some minutes in their legs; are match-ready; in good shape; sharp; ready to roar and roll.
THE LOSSES
Lofty Platform: With their elimination collapsed the stage for players to launch their international careers and attract foreign interest after showcasing their talents as prolonged involvement would have been sure to set scouts on them (Abbas Amidu, Ronald Pfumbidzai, and Edmore Sibanda were snatched following a remarkable run with Caps United in 2017) A Shot at History: Making the quarter-finals would have set them on the path as one of Zimbabwe’s most successful clubs in the tournament as they aim to emulate Dynamos’ feat of reaching the final in 1998.
Prestige: The manner they went about business, however, betrays them as just one of those teams from next door. Failure to establish themselves as a team that can compete at a high level is a disappointment that no dignity and reputation can be build on following their prosaic participation.
Mandava Faithful: Without enjoying any home comforts, the team’s Zvishavane multitude and Mandava faithful could not watch their favourite team in action in the group stages of the prestigious tournament. It was even worse for those who could not make it to their adopted Bulawayo home at Babourfields or travel to away matches.
In the final analysis, was FC Platinum’s participation in the 2019 Caf Champions League mission accomplished or underwhelming; especially looked at against their set target and objective?
For “Our objective remains the same and that is reaching the group stages of the Total Caf Champions League and we believe we have learnt our lessons from the previous failures,” their gaffer Mapeza had categorically told The Herald back in November last year during their preliminary round preparations against Cnaps of Madagascar.
If it is about football that you care let’s share the cheer because we are made for the game, mad about the game!
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