The ManicaPost
Sports Correspondent
THREE Mutare-born players are set to represent the diamond-mining city in a continental tie when Triangle host visiting Azam in a Caf Confederation Cup first round second leg tie set for Barbourfields tomorrow (Saturday).
Midfielder Pasca Manhanga, forward Nyasha Chintuli and goalkeeper Chang Mariyoni, who all trace their roots to the Eastern border metropolis, will spice up the affair with a Sakubva flavour in this prestigious inter-club African competition.
Triangle carry an away goal advantage after triumphing 1-0 in the reverse fixture played away in Tanzania a fortnight ago. An outright victory or draw will be good enough to take them into the penultimate qualifying round where, if they pull through, will face teams that would have been eliminated from the Caf Champions League and demoted to the second-tier tournament. Successful clubs from that round can then make the group stages.
And the Mutare trio is seeking to sweeten the sugar processors’ dream run in the African safari for tactician Taurai Mangwiro’s charges, with Manhanga expressing confidence that the Lowveld side has what it takes to leave a mark on the arena.
“This is an important tournament for the club and we are taking it seriously. Our desire is to do well and make an impact because we are a competent outfit under the tutelage of a capable coach.
As such, it is crucial that we continue winning our games, especially here at home, and see where that takes us. “We got off to a positive and it is still a promising campaign for us. That we ground out a good result away in the first leg should inspire us to come out with a scoreline we want this weekend. As for Azam, we have to prevent them from scoring goals.
Our desire is to keep going forward as we seek to progress to the latter stages of the tournament. We are, however, aware that there are no small teams and underrating any would be suicidal,” cautioned the midget midfielder.
Manhanga, who is familiar with forays into the African football jungle, boasts the experience needed at this level of the competition; having previously done duty for the senior men’s soccer team – the Warriors – at the 2014 Chan finals. For blossoming attacker Chintuli, this presents a platform for the players to express their talents.
Said the ex-Tenax striker, who is enjoying a purple patch since joining at the start of this term: “We are relishing the challenge and have trained well in preparation for this game because we know how tough matches of such nature may get.
Facing an opponent that we have defeated in their own backyard can be tricky and we have to be at our very best and complete the job at hand in order to proceed to the next round.”
“Also, the team can learn a lot from this expedition. That this is the club’s first time ever being here naturally spurs us to give it our best shot. We are all excited about the prospects of participating in this competition as it offers a different challenge that tests the strength of our game,” added the youthful gunslinger Chintuli.
Warriors trialist goalie Mariyoni, who was called up in the provisional squad for the 2018 Cosafa Cup, implored Zimbabwean fans to follow and root for the team. “Supporters can play a huge role during our matches by coming out in their droves at Barbourfields to cheer the team on. If they rally solidly behind us then that can motivate us to do better. Despite that we are not hosting Azam at Gibbo, we are still at home because we are playing in Zimbabwe. Remember these are games of a national interest that if we do well as Triangle, then it will also raise and improve the country’s football profile on the continent. Football followers’ presence in the stadium as the 12th man is important and helps a lot in raising the team spirit because through this way we can go far in this tournament despite us being newcomers,” stated Mariyoni.
With Triangle continuing with their encouraging run during this maiden dance on the African football stage, all eyes will be on how their acquisitions from Mutare fare in pushing their cause on the continental front.
The Sugar Boys are making their debut appearance in the Confederation Cup voyage after winning the country’s premier knockout trophy – Chibuku Super Cup – last season. They made an impressive start to the maiden campaign in the competition with an impressive 5-0 massacre of Rukinzo of Burundi over two legs in the preliminary stage last month.
