Brito bows to Mapeza’s Platinum project

IN the wake of their first 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League defeat at the hands of defending champions FC Platinum on Saturday, Highlanders FC gaffer Baltemar Brito has reckoned it was actually a surprise that they are sitting on the apex of the league table.
Interestingly, the outspoken Brito underscored that it was FC Platinum who are expected to be on the top of the table in the process giving praise to the miner’s camp saying they have the quality arsenal to do a better job.

Pure Platinum Play, who had gone for five consecutive games without posting a win, summoned all their capabilities that helped them derail the Bosso train on a 2-0 scoreline after the Bulawayo football giants had gone for 19 games without a loss.
On Saturday, a Peter Muduhwa own goal and Walter Musona second-half strike condemned Bosso to their first defeat of the season.
For Brito, it wasn’t a painful one.

“Everyone of you guys know FC Platinum are not any normal team. They have really good players. What is not normal is them being not on top of the log.

“It should be expected for them to be on top rather than us being on top. What our boys are doing should be recognised by other people as unbelievable” said Brito.

Highlanders are top of the table with 41 points after 20 matches. They lead second-placed Ngezi Platinum by two points.
Bosso’s defeat at the hands of FC Platinum allowed Ngezi to trim the points deficit to two points. Ngezi Platinum beat Triangle 3-0.
FC Platinum on the other hand are not having the best of seasons as they sit in position six with 30 points. They have drawn six, lost six and won eight.

They will be hoping the big victory over Highlanders will see a turn in their fortunes this season.

The only time Highlanders came close to assembling a competitive side since winning the 2006 championship was during the Kelvin Kaindu era when they twice lost the title to archrivals Dynamos on goal difference in 2012 and 2013.

Most of the players who formed the trailblazing 2006 Highlanders squad sought greener pastures at the end of that season, with eccentric goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini moving to South Africa and the trio of striker Obidiah Tarumbwa, midfielder Honour Gombami and utility player Vusa Nyoni moving to Belgium, while Ralph Matema was snapped up by South African giants Orlando Pirates.

In 2012, Bosso went on a 23-game unbeaten run under Kelvin Kaindu but could still not win the league title.
— @innocentskizoe