The players are confident they will make it right this time after the atrocious outing from the tournament by their former Zimbabwean club.
Platinum Stars, who are participating in the biggest club tournament in Africa courtesy of finishing runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns last season, kick off their Champions League campaign next week against Lesotho Correctional Services in the first round, and should they advance, they will meet the winner of the US Tamponnaise (Reunion) and St Michel United (Seychelles) clash.
Ndlovu, Kapini and Luphahla will play a decisive role owing to their vast experience in the competition as well as the African Nations Cup and about a 100 national caps among them.
“It feels great to be back playing in this tournament. I am hopeful that Platinum Stars will leave and impression on the continent,” said Ndlovu, who captained Highlanders on several occasions on their abortive campaigns in the Champions League where they failed on four occasions to reach the lucrative group stages.
Luphahla said although he was looking forward to making a return to the grand stage, incompetent match officials and hostile African teams could spoil the enjoyment of playing in the tournament.
“I look forward to the games. The fact that we might play Egyptian club Al Ahly makes it more interesting,” he said.
Luphahla was part of the Highlanders team that in 2000 looked set to progress to the group stages at the expense of Cameroonian club Sable de Batie after leading 3-0 in the first leg, only to be thumped 4-0 away in the second leg.
“We have to remain confident and not lose focus because of perceptions over what tactics our opponents will employ to defeat us. We are going all out for a win and I am highly confident that we will successfully negotiate the first two hurdles and then we will take it from there.”
Like his counterparts, Zimbabwe first choice keeper, Kapini, is hopeful that Stars will leave an indelible mark on the continent saying the team has enough experience at its disposal to pull through.
“Teams will always employ underhand tactics to frustrate us and derail our campaign. It is however beneficial that there are a number of players in the team that have represented Bafana Bafana and their respective former teams and experienced such frustrating treatment.
These include Willem Jackson, Edward Williams and Sailor Tshabalala among others,” said the 23-year-old, a ‘veteran’ campaigner in four Champions League campaigns before he crossed the Limpopo to join Stars.
“We are united more than ever as a team to conquer these tactics and leave an impression during Stars’ debut Champions League campaign. We have the mental strength to achieve that while on the other hand, we rely on teamwork and not individuals.” – CAJ News