Ngezi Platinum Stars coach, Tonderai Ndiraya, has said that the mining team is determined to qualify whichever way to the next stage of the CAF Confederation Cup when they play the return leg against Clube Recreativo Do Libolo of Angola at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon
Addressing journalists at a Press Conference at Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Private) Limited (Zimplats) Head Office in Harare on Friday, Ndiraya said it is vital for Ngezi Platinum Stars to focus on qualifying at all costs than actual strategies.
“What we want is to qualify and as I have said several times how we qualify is not important so we are banking on the support of the people of Zimbabwe to raise high the flag of this nation and of course [that of] our community,” he said.
Ndiraya also said it was vital for the team to look forward to the clash with permutations which will inspire them to focus in the quest for victory tomorrow.
“. . . obviously we are preparing on the background of a defeat, we lost 2-1 in Angola and that has put us and mostly the players, under some little bit of pressure. We have been talking to the boys to try and take off that pressure and try and educate them on the need to focus and the need to fight hard for a result.
“I have said that the Angolans are coming here with a result and they may want to come and defend the whole match because of that result. We have been preparing with that in mind and we have taken a different approach from the way we approached the game in Angola. We are going to be very offensive and we have set the team with that in mind.
“We have obviously taken off some few defensive players in the (sic) team and we have added some few exciting and offensive players. So that really has changed our game plan. We want a result, if we win 1-0 it means we are through; if we win 2-1 that means the game will be taken to extra time. If we win 3-1 that means we are through.
“So basically we have been preparing with those three results in mind and all our efforts have been focusing on those three results. So I can say we are caught ready for the battle and I just hope by the end of the day tomorrow we will make our community back in Mhondoro happy and the nation at large,” he added.
Ndiraya, however, said it is likely going to be a difficult game despite the permutations as it is difficult to know what exactly the opponents will bring on the table.
“A game of football is very difficult, you can’t really predict what your opponents will come lining up. But we expect a very defensive game from there. So how they set out [sic] their team is something else, what we have just been focusing on is what we can do; what we can control and that is our game plan and those three results I have spoken about. We are just hoping we can get any of those three results but especially one which can take us through without any pressures. So the 1-0 or 3-1 result will be good for us.
“We have also noted some strengths in that team, especially that of attacking the set pieces. We have worked hard in that area the whole week. So I’m hoping that my captain here and the other members of the team will not disappoint. And I have said it several times that it’s quite disappointing to concede some goals in dead ball situations obviously because you are given a lot of time to organize yourselves and defend well, so I hope we are not going to be having that.
“We have also noted weaknesses in their defence and that’s what we have been working on and we are hoping that they may just come with that same set up which we may probably take advantage of. We are fully prepared, we are ready to go, ready for the match and can’t wait ,” he said.