NGEZI Platinum Stars coach Takesure Chiragwi is treating their CAF Champions League second leg clash against AS Maniema Union at the Stade Des Martyrs in Kinshasa this afternoon like a cup final.
Kickoff is 1630hrs Zimbabwe time.
Having drawn the first leg nil-all played at Ngezi Platinum Stars' adopted home ground in Zambia last week, Chiragwi says his team must give absolutely everything today to make sure that they progress to the first round in their debut campaign in the continent's premier club football competition.
He reckons that a good run in the competition will represent huge progress for the club which gained league promotion just eight years ago.
"This is our first time to play in the Caf Champions League, so it's important for us to use the opportunity to showcase our skills," Chiragwi told a press conference in Kinshasa yesterday.
"This is an opportunity for us to show that we are growing and progressing as an institution. This is the best club competition in Africa that every coach and every player dreams to be involved in. For us, this is our stepping stone to make sure that we grow our brand and make a mark. We want to do well so that people out there know that Zimbabwe football is growing. We are here to compete and raise our flag high as Ngezi Platinum Stars and as Zimbabweans. We have what it takes to do that for the nation."
With the away goal's rule in force in this competition, the Zimbabwe league champions hold a slight advantage going into the clash.
"We are here to play a cup final because we need to progress to the first round. The nil-all draw from the first leg gave us an advantage because we didn't concede. We now have to get a goal at all costs and we are working very hard to make sure that we win the game. We noted some mistakes from the first game and during the week we have been working to make sure we rectify and get the goals. Hopefully we are going to get the goals. There is no way that we mustn't get goals if we really want to progress. We really want to progress and make a good statement. We are here to represent the nation and we are very serious. We want to go far in this competition and this is one game that is going to make us achieve our targets. This game is very important to us."
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Asked if his team is ready for the big clash, Chiragwi quipped, "This match is the reason why we travelled all the way here from Zimbabwe. We are here to play in this match, which like I said, we are treating it as a cup final. In as much as we respect the opponent this is a match we are playing to win. We are very much confident that we are going to have a positive result which would be good for the club as well as the nation."
Ngezi Platinum is not expected to make any changes from the squad that started at the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday last week.
Chiragwi made one change from the squad that travelled to Zambia, dropping Nelson Mweha who was replaced by Tapiwa Mandinyenya.
Madamburo, as Ngezi is affectionately known, arrived in Kinshasa and have been acclimatising to the hot, humid weather in the city.
They are also settling in well, thanks to the support that they are getting from the Zimbabwe embassy officials led by Chargè d'affaires Tangisayi Tapera, representing Ambassador General (RTD) David Sigauke who is currently back home.
The officials welcomed the team when they arrived at the airport in the early hours of Thursday, and have been helping the team with most of the administrative issues.
"We are fully behind the team as they are flying the nation's flag," Tapera said. "We have rallied Zimbabwe residents here to come and support Ngezi Platinum Stars and make them feel at home."
Ngezi Platinum Stars Probable XI
N Chadya, P Moyo, K Chigwida, M Hativagoni, R Hachiro, L Kashitigu, M Mukumba, F Madhanaga, Q Amini, T Meke, O Chirinda
