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Paul Mundandi in ZVISAHAVANE
FC Platinum are in bullish mood as they plunge into a make-or-break Castle Lager Premier League match against Chicken Inn at Luveve today. Coach Norman Mapeza says the game is very important for the FC Platinum family and their quest to become the first team, from outside Harare and Bulawayo, to win the league championship in about 50 years.
“It’s one of the important games for us as a club, but we will not give it special treatment, but we are taking every game as it comes,” said Mapeza. “We will play our normal game and we are hoping to come out with a positive result.
“We are working hard. You never know, history can be changed, but we are going to Bulawayo hoping to play well and get a positive result. “Football is played over 90 minutes. Physically and mentally, they are a very strong side, but we will see how it goes come Wednesday.
“We are not talking about winning the league. It is other people’s opinion.
“We are leaving everything in God’s hands.
“When we started there was a lot of pressure because the team was not winning, but now everybody is talking about us, so, we have to remain with our feet on the ground.
“God is the only one who knows our destiny, God knows what really happened when the season started for us, God knows where we are now and He knows where we are heading to.”
Mapeza called for thousands of FC Platinum fans to make the trip to Bulawayo for the big game that could define their season.
“We appreciate the fans’ support, we need them come Wednesday. I heard people saying that they need four or five buses to go to Chicken Inn, but it’s not about four or five buses, but it’s about their voices at the end of the day,” said the coach.
“How much are they going to be there for us is what matters, but I appreciate their support.
“My main worry is about the two guys who went to the national team.
“The team spirit is fine, since day one when we had some rough days, we always joke, we are happy, we always laugh and unity has been there and our team spirit is fantastic.”
Mapeza has never beaten Chicken Inn, but the gaffer believes that this is one game that will not be shaped by past events.
If FC Platinum win today, they will reduce the gap between them and Chicken Inn to just one point and set up an explosive finish in the championship race.
But if Joey Antipas and his men win this game, then they will go seven points clear and, with just four games remaining, they will be firm favourites to be crowned champions.
Online Reporter