Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
HARARE City defender Crispen Dickson will not be part of the team set to leave this morning for Madagascar where they will face AS Adema in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round, return leg tie.

The defender failed to secure a visa to the Indian Ocean island.

The return match is set for this Sunday. And today, the Sunshine Boys are scheduled to fly to Johannesburg where they will connect another flight to Antananarivo.

They are set to board a chartered flight from Antananarivo to the coastal city of Mahajanga.

But experienced defender Dickson, whose passport is set to expire in May, was denied a visa into Madagascar.

The Indian Ocean island authorities only issue a visa for someone holding a passport valid for the next six months.

The defender was an unused substitute in the first leg which Harare City won 3-2.

Coach Taurai Mangwiro opted for the partnership of Themba Ndlovu and Arnold Chivheya in central defence with Farai Madhananga and Blessing Moyo operating from the left and right sides.

The duo of Honey Chimutimunzeve and Takudzwa Chimwemwe, who were not in the final squad for the first leg, have made the team this time around.

Yesterday, assistant coach Mkuphali Masuku, said they would be seeking an early goal in Mahajanga so that they destroy the game plan of their hosts.

He said they were confident they will progress to the first round where Zambia giants Zanaco are waiting in ambush.

“We are not going for a draw but an outright win. They scored two away goals but we can score two away goals as well,” said Masuku.

“As Harare City we are confident and looking to progress to the first round.

“As you saw from the first game we created a lot of chances but we couldn’t bury them. We have been practicing a lot in terms of converting so we are confident that goals will come.

“At training, the strikers have been looking sharp and if they can convert half of the chances they have been scoring at training then that would be a bonus for us.”

AS Adema scored two crucial away goals here but Masuku says they are still chasing the game.

“Our game plan is to attack and find an early goal but the most important thing is that we are carrying the lead and they are chasing the game so we are not under any pressure, unlike them,” he said.

The Sunshine Boys believe they will be at home playing at an artificial surface as they are used to such a surface at Rufaro, which is their home ground.

AS Adema’s home stadium in Antananarivo is undergoing refurbishments.

Final squad:

Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, Tafadzwa Dube, Munya Nyenye, Arnold Chivheya, Blessing Moyo, Themba Ndlovu, Raymond Uchena, Farai Madhananga, Tendai Samanja, James Jam, Ronald Chitiyo, Honey Chimutimunzeve, Martin Vengesayi, William Manondo, Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Raphael Manuvire, Francesco Zekumbawire, Kuda Kumwala

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