Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda
Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 0
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
NORMAN Mapeza is one coach whose faith in achieving is so big that few can master. He still holds the belief that FC Platinum, the defending champions of the Castle Lager Premiership, will hold on to the top silverware.
His demeanor, as a coach who believes, and that he is a champion was seen and heard yesterday as his team won 1-0 against Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium. The visitors’ Jerrison Selemani shot into the nets in the 13th minute what sealed the game and gave Pure Platinum Play pleasure.
This was a duel that however, showed how the year had got the better off the legs of the players in the country’s elite football league. Somehow tepid, weary and uninteresting, it was in entire 90 minutes. But FC Platinum won it. The platinum miners, who are the league’s defending champions travelled all the way to disappoint Chicken Inn with no reply, going home so confident and their coach Mapeza wouldn’t hide.
Mapeza, in a long time in front of the camera, was so visibly a happy face and blatantly made it clear that he was content with the result. In fact, he said he has not thrown in the towel. He believes and still holds the faith to hold on the pole title come end of season, as the Premiership race gets to the wire.
The win against the Gamecocks somehow gave the Pure Platinum gaffer a bit of confidence. The play tactics he employed on the afternoon, left many a lesson on how best to lead and leave the opponent questioning.
Even on his post-match brief, Mapeza showed a face of a man who went home smiling.
Heartily, he was full of praise for his players. His excitement was how they contained the game in the first half.
“It was fantastic. This was a game that I am proud my players were so good. They played well today. The first half was fantastic,” said Mapeza.
Known for his character as a man who extends gratitude, Mapeza felt a little bit of warmth for his opponents.
“They could have scored but we managed to control the tempo. We could have killed the game.
But, all the same, I say it was a job well done by my boys. They did well. In football you never give up. We are still hoping something will happen as we push to end the season on second position. We take each game as it comes,” he said.
His opposite number Prince Matore went home to redo his work.
“In the first half we were slow in the game. We improved in the second half. We created some chances but we could not score,” he said.
Teams:
Chicken Inn: D Bernard (gk), M Hwata (B Ncube, 65mins), M Charamba, M Bhebhe, R Hachiro, N Ketala, T Kutinyu (G Mutungamiri, 46mins), I Mabunu, S Mhlanga (G Majika, 76mins), X Ndlovu, B Muza.
FC Platinum: P Mhari (gk), G Mbweti, G Bello, L Mhlanga, N Chinyerere, R Pavari, J Mutudza, B Banda, J Selemani (P Chikwende, 75mins), P Mutimbanyoka, T Ngwenya
— @NkosieLegend
Bongani Ndlovu