adminBlessing Malinganiza
IN more ways than one, the Castle Challenge Cup belongs to FC Platinum.
Since its introduction in 2017, the tournament, which pits winners of the league and the main knockout tourney in the domestic Premiership, has been won by the Zvishavane giants.
Such has been their dominance that the season-opener has looked more like a property of FC Platinum.
They are back for another shot at winning it when they take on Bulawayo Chiefs at Mandava on Saturday.
The match will mark the official start of this season’s domestic Premiership.
Norman Mapeza and his men are on a mission to seal their immortality as the first local side to win FIVE league titles on the trot.
They have won FOUR in succession, matching the standards set by Dynamos (twice) and Highlanders (once).
The Glamour Boys won four straight titles between 1980 and 1983 and again between 2011 and 2014.
Bosso won four league titles, on the bounce, at the turn of the millennium.
Mapeza became only the second coach, after Callisto Pasuwa, to win four league titles in a row on the local scene.
His men rounded up their preparations for the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season with a 2-0 victory over Masvingo United in a friendly match over the weekend.
Perfect Chikwende and Juan Mutudza secured the victory for the champions.
Chikwende has returned to the champions’ fold and hopes to make the same impact, during his last dance there, which saw him attracting interest from foreign clubs.
Mutudza was in the eye of a storm, a few months ago, when Herentals challenged his suitability to play for FC Platinum.
There were even fears that the Students’ move could see FC Platinum being stripped of their league championship crown, should they be found guilty.
However, the case appears to have been shelved within the ZIFA judicial structures.
Online Reporter