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Mukudzei Chingwere Sports Reporter
THE CAPS United shadow will be looming large over FC Platinum when they plunge into the first leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round battle against Clube Desportivo de Agosto in Luanda on Sunday.

The Green Machine charmed the domestic football family by defying all the odds to reach the group stages of the tournament last year, ending years of repeated failure by Zimbabwean representatives in the competition.

Makepekepe dumped five-time African champions TP Mazembe, who had never been knocked out by a Zimbabwean club, in the eliminator for a place in the group stages in what was probably the biggest shock of the tournament. They then went on to thrash five-time champions Zamalek of Egypt and also beat USM Alger of Algeria at the National Sports Stadium. FC Platinum know they have to try and match what CAPS United did in that fine run.

“We will try to do our best,” club president George Mawere, credited with finally finding the formula that transformed FC Platinum into champions of Zimbabwe, told The Herald.

The Zvishavane miners are expected to leave for Angola today. And the Confederation of African Football have assigned Zambian referee, Audrick Nkole, to take charge of their match in Luanda.

Nkole will be assisted by compatriots, first assistant Oliver Gift Mweene, second assistant Romeo Kasengel, fourth official Kasokota Kafuli Derrick and Mangaliso Jabulani Langwenya of Swaziland is the match commissioner.

Last year Ngezi Platinum complained bitterly that Zambian referee, Wellington Kaoma, wrongly ruled out Donald Teguru’s effort for offside in their CAF Confederation Cup tie in Angola. Had that goal stood, the Mhondoro miners would have qualified for the next stage.

Nkole, who will take charge of FC Platinum’s match is equally controversial. Last year Red Arrows coach, Honour Janza, accused Nkole of favouritism in their league match against Power Dynamos in the MTN-FAZ Super League. Nkole awarded Power Dynamos a controversial late penalty which was converted by striker Alex Ng’onga to guarantee Power Dynamos maximum points.