Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi and Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TINO BENZA is positive that Herentals can pick their tune in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League again after losing their last two games.
Until they hit a slump, the Students had been on a roll, steadily climbing up the ladder.
That was before a revitalised Bikita Minerals stopped them in their backyard at Rufaro a fortnight ago.
Herentals were also found wanting when going down to Yadah Stars at the Heart last Saturday.
Despite their slump, the Students are not too far off the pace with 22 points to their name, nine behind unbeaten leaders MWOS after 15 games.
Herentals host reinvigorated FC Platinum, who in contrast have won their past two games, at Rufaro this afternoon.
It is a game that could also present an intriguing battle of wits on the dugouts between FC Platinum’s Norman Mapeza and the hosts’ Paul Benza.
And yet, a concerned captain Tino Benza said the Harare side have to be different to claim all the points.
He reckoned that the problems the Students have been having are mostly to do with indecisiveness in the attacking third to which he admitted to being also culpable.
“Let’s all agree that this season’s Premiership race is one of the most competitive we have seen in years,” Benza said.
“There are no easy opponents, absolutely. It’s either you concentrate and throw in more effort or you drop the points.
“On our part, as a team, I think we have been very compact, especially at the back and in midfield. Every player knows just how to play for each other, to take responsibility and everything else.
“But look, we have been very inconsistent in terms of scoring goals. This is an area that we need to work on.
“I think we need to pull up in the attacking third. We need to create more clear-cut chances. But if we fail to do so, the strikers should also step up and try to squeeze the goals even from half-chances.
“We have a growing fan base that wants to see us doing well in that area. We play to score goals and I believe it’s an area we have been lacking precision in. But coach Paul Benza has tried to address that and I believe we can now deliver.”
The forward, who has scored once and provided three assists this season, often springs up when playing against FC Platinum.
It is against the Zvishavane side that the 24-year-old often conjures up the magic which has seen him scoring against them almost every time he faces FC Platinum.
“I know FC Platinum is one of the strongest teams around and I tend to reserve my best for them. But let me be honest. They are a very difficult team to play against let alone to beat.
“They have some of the best players around and their coach is a great tactician. So, I can’t really say I know how they play. I can’t say why I often flourish against them.
“It’s about the strategy of the day that determines who carries the day.”
Benza said losing two games on the trot and the need for redemption against a high-flying opposition is what is motivating his team going into this duel.
“There is not even a single team that is okay with losing games, worse, two or three on the bounce. We are no different. We will throw everything into the game against FC Platinum on Wednesday (today).
“The idea is to be different getting into this match. At the end of the day, we need the points. So this has been the message among ourselves as players and from our technical team to us the players.
“We will be out to win this one. We just need to press the right buttons for 90 minutes to achieve this.”
After their back-to-back wins reignited confidence in their dressing room, Mapeza wants to see the four-time champions maintain their momentum.
Mapeza, however, would rather focus on one game at a time.
“What is important is to keep the momentum going,” he said.
“We haven’t gone two wins in a row this season. But look, we have been working. What is important is to keep believing. Now we have to shift our focus to our next game against Herentals in Harare, which is not going to be an easy game for us.”
FC Platinum are one of the only two teams yet to taste defeat after 15 rounds, along with surprise packages MWOS.
After snatching an important away 1-0 win at TelOne, FC Platinum fired big shots when they breached the usually watertight ZPC Kariba defence in a 4-0 victory at Mandava last Saturday.
Earlier in the season, Mapeza voiced concern over his team’s low conversion rate. By last weekend, the Zvishavane side had managed only nine goals in 14 starts and banging the nets four times against ZPC Kariba should have come as a huge boost.
“The performance (against ZPC Kariba), I think will bring confidence to everybody, especially the players. But we don’t have to forget everything; we are still in the woods, and we just need to keep finding our way out of the woods. That’s what is important at the moment,” said Mapeza.
Double scorer in the last match Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya appears to have hit top form and should also be among the men to watch against Herentals this afternoon.
Ngwenya also scored a brace for the national team in Zimbabwe’s 3-1 win over Mozambique at the COSAFA Cup in South Africa.
“Thando has been doing very well. He has been doing very well before he even went to the national team. Scoring two goals was a massive boost to his confidence,” said Mapeza.
Fixtures:
Today: TelOne v ZPC Kariba (Ascot), Herentals v FC Platinum (Rufaro), Simba Bhora v Bikita Minerals (Wadzanayi), Manica Diamonds v Highlanders (Sakubva), Chicken Inn v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Luveve), GreenFuel v Scottland (GreenFuel Arena)
Tomorrow: Dynamos v Yadah (Rufaro), MWOS v CAPS United (Ngoni), Kwekwe United v Triangle (Bata)
