FC Platinum out to pile pressure on rivals

Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter

DEFENDING champions FC Platinum are looking to pile on the pressure at the top of the Castle Lager Premiership table when they travel to ZPC Kariba this weekend. 

The platinum miners stormed back in the picture in this year’s title race following a big win against log leaders Ngezi Platinum last week. 

Despite trailing by five points going into the last eight games of the season, their coach Norman Mapeza senses the battle is on. 

“First of all I would want to congratulate the boys for a massive win against Ngezi last Saturday,” he said at yesterday’s pre-match press conference. 

“I think we really did ourselves a huge favour in terms of closing the gap between us and them.” 

But travelling to Kariba at this time of the year comes with its challenges, chief among them the scorching summer temperatures. 

The four-time champions are also aware of the competition they expect from the hosts, who are currently involved in the vicious battle for survival. ZPC Kariba dropped into the relegation zone following last week’s 3-4 defeat to fellow relegation candidates Black Rhinos. 

“We are facing a very dangerous team and if you look at their performances in their last few games, it has been up and down. 

“I am sure after dropping points against Rhinos away, it’s not going to be easy for us playing in Kariba, with weather conditions. 

“But at the end of the day, we know where we are coming from and what we want to achieve come the end of the season. So we have to put everything into that game and see what happens at the end of the day.”

FC Platinum also had a couple players who were supposed to take a fitness test yesterday, in preparation for an early morning departure to Kariba today. 

“We have got just some few guy who are still limping but I’m sure tomorrow (today) by the time we leave for Kariba — we have to go early in the morning — I’m sure everybody will be fine because they have to go for treatment this afternoon (yesterday) and I’m sure I will have a full report by the end of the day. 

“But I am not really worried much about the injuries. My main worry is much about the travelling, the weather conditions and things like that. 

“At the end of the day, there is nothing we can do. It has been hot also here but like I said it’s a game where we really need to go there and come back home with a positive result,” said Mapeza. 

FC Platinum, who won the last four league titles on the bounce, are now second in the race with 46 points after recovering from a slow start. They will also hope for Ngezi Platinum and Chicken Inn to cancel each other in another interesting PSL duel lined up for tomorrow at Baobab.