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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza says the side still wants to play at least one high-profile preparatory match before they plunge into this year’s edition of the Caf Confederation Cup tournament.

Mapeza, who is one of the coaches currently taking part in the Caf A Licence in Harare, yesterday told The Herald that preparations were on course after his players regrouped early this month.

The former Warriors coach, however, is only expected to rejoin his side a few days before the team’s departure for Kenya where they play Sofapaka in the preliminary round.

The Caf A Licence coaching course ends on February 8 and FC Platinum will play their first leg match the following weekend.

Mapeza believes his absence will not have an impact on the team’s preparations after leaving the responsibilities in the hands of his assistant Patrick Mandizha, who is also an experienced coach.

The platinum miners were hoping to play an international friendly against Zambia’s Power Dynamos two weeks ago but the tie was cancelled at the last minute.

“Preparations are going on very well although I am not there for now. We have a training programme and I believe there are people there taking care of things accordingly.

“This course finishes on February 8 and soon afterwards I will be on the road back to Zvishavane.

“As far as our preparations have been going, everything is okay. I am happy everyone in the team is co-operating and I can say we are 75 percent there in terms of preparedness.

“We have been running and doing fitness in the last 20 or so days but it’s important to test ourselves in real game situations because some of the things you cannot tell using your eyes.

“We have been playing practice matches and it’s unfortunate we haven’t had an opportunity for a high-profile game like the one that we were supposed to play against Power Dynamos.

“However, we have requested for such an opportunity to test ourselves but at the moment I cannot promise anything. The management, I believe, is working on that but if we cannot get it then we will need to manage with what we have,” said Mapeza.

The Zvishavane side had hoped to get an early test of their abilities against Power Dynamos who are led by their former coach Tennant Chilumba.

The Zambians instead opted to tour Kenya where they will play FC Platinum’s opponents Sofapaka, Tusker and the country’s champions Gor Mahia in preparation for their Confederation Cup assignment against Al Khartoum of Sudan.

FC Platinum are still upbeat after beefing their team with Wellington Kamudyariwa, Brian Muzondiwa and Emmanuel Mandiranga.

They dropped striker Michelle Katsvairo, Talbert Shumba, Benjamin Marere and James Marufu.

Left-back Qadr Amini also left to join Dynamos although he had been registered to play in the Confederation Cup tournament.

Mapeza said the trio of Tarisai Rukanda, Ashley Mukwena, Stephen Sibanda and Winston Mhango, who had been battling injuries, have improved.

“Those guys have since started training with the team. But the fact that they had sat out for some time means they would need a little bit more time to get to where the others are,” said Mapeza.