HWANGE coach, Tennnat Chilumba, says his team gave visiting Sudanese outfit El Amal Atbara too much respect and lamented the expulsion of defender Munyaradzi Mungadze as a major contributing factor in the drawn first leg of the Confederation Cup first round tie at the Colliery on Sunday.

Hwange, like Champions League debutantes FC Platinum who were held by El Merreikh at home at the weekend, now find themselves with a tall order in the reverse fixture after settling for a 1-1 result.

But Zimbabwean champions Dynamos justified their higher status over Mozambique’s Liga Maculmana after twice taking the lead through Takesure Chinyama before forcing a 2-2 draw away in Maputo, on a weekend of stalemates.

While Dynamos appear to have lessened their load with an away result, Hwange and FC Platinum will have to fight harder in away conditions in two weeks to keep alive their hopes. However, Chilumba sees light at the end of the tunnel.

The Hwange coach believes the coalminers were hard done by the red card shown to one of his players almost midway through the first half.

They were already trailing 0-1 by the time Mungadze was given his marching orders in the 24th minute but captain Rodwell Chinyengetere levelled matters just before the half time break.

Mungadze, who was earlier cautioned for rough play, got his second booking and was sent off for a deliberate handball.

“I can’t blame the match officials for the result but I think the decision to send off the player was too harsh,” said Chilumba.

“The red card came too early in the game and it obviously had a big impact on our game plan. It became very difficult for our young players to recover.

“But we fought hard and managed to equalise when it appeared we were down and out.

“In fact ,despite being reduced to 10 men, we had an upper hand for most part of the game. I give credit to the boys and my technical team for that fighting spirit.”

Chilumba said Hwange were not going to throw in the towel.

“We were a bit too cautious in this first leg because we didn’t know exactly what type of an opponent we were facing. But from what I saw in that game I think we have a big chance when we go there for the return leg.

“Now that we know their strengths and weaknesses it should be very interesting. Their coach too might have come here just to get a result and may contemplate changing the game plan in the return leg.

“As for us we will have to attack from the first whistle,” said Chilumba.

Hwange will find themselves in the same situation with FC Platinum who were forced to a 2-2 draw with another Sudanese side El Merreikh.

Kugona Kunenge Kudada had twice come from behind to level matters through Michelle Katsvairo and Joel Ngodzo.

The platinum miners clearly lacked the attacking edge in the absence of their chief striker Donald Ngoma who is nursing injury.

FC Platinum, who passed the preliminary round in flying colours after beating Swazi side Green Mamba 8-2 on aggregate, will need to find their range ahead of the return leg.

Dynamos, who had a bye in the preliminary round, held the country’s flag high after forcing a draw against Liga Maculmana away in Maputo, to put them in good stead ahead of the return leg.

The Glamour Boys, who had a disappointing campaign last season when they crashed out in the first round, are seeking to go further in the tournament this year.

By his admission, Callisto Pasuwa believes his men have not yet reached their desired level.

The Harare giants were expected home last night.

Elsewhere, Ghana’s Berekum Chelsea posted the biggest upset in the first round, first leg when they handed former African kings Raja Casablanca their worst defeat in African competitions with a humiliating 5-0 rout.  

Raja won Africa’s premier club competition three times in 1989, 1997 and 1999.

They have not reached the last four since qualifying for the semi-final in 2005.

Chelsea, who won their first Ghanaian league title last season, are making their maiden Champions League appearance.

Former Dynamos striker Edward Sadomba was on target for his Sudanese club Al-Hilal when they posted an impressive 3-0 win away to lowly Diplomates FC in Central Africa.