NORMAN MAPEZA has declared that he has been in football business long enough to know what to expect when playing away in Africa.

Mapeza’s FC Platinum play Desportivo de Agosto of Angola in a Caf Champions League preliminary round first leg in Luanda on Sunday.

The Zimbabwean champions left Harare for Luanda Thursday morning.

Addressing a press conference at a Harare hotel just before departure, Mapeza said his team would exercise caution in Luanda.

“I have read in the press some writing that we will go all out and attack in Luanda. I am not a fool, I have been in this industry for a long time to know what to expect when playing away in Africa.

“We have to be very cautious when we go there. We just need to go there and grind a result,” said Mapeza.

Caps United’s performance in the Champions League last season, when they reached the group stage, could put pressure on FC Platinum whom many Zimbabweans expect to emulate what Makepekepe did in 2016.

But Mapeza thinks Caps United’s achievements should not be used as a barometer.

“What caps United did is good for the nation but it’s not a barometer to measure us, we don’t have to go there and try and surpass what Caps United did because football differs every year.

“Our plan is to reach the group stages and see how it goes.

“We are ready for the tie and I am glad our preparations went on well.”

FC Platinum beat Ferroviario of Mozambique 1-0 before succumbing to a morale sapping 0-4 loss to Zanaco of Zambia in their first two friendlies.

They drew 0-0 against Nkana of Zambia in their last preparatory match.

And scoring has been a problem for Mapeza’s side but the former Warriors skipper thinks it’s a Zimbabwean problem and not his side’s alone.

“So many clubs have faced the same challenges, but we have been working on that (scoring).

The return leg is at Mandava next weekend.