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Sports Reporter
FC Platinum became the second Premiership club to embrace a schoolboy this season when they unleashed Zvishavane High School pupil Beven Kaitano.
Kaitano was part of the FC Platinum side that effortlessly thumped Yadah 5-0 at Mandava to secure their passage into the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final.
Kaitano is doing his A-Levels at Zvishavane high.
Ngezi Platinum Stars’s Nisbert Muzenda is the other schoolboy who is having a feel of the big boy’s league while doing his studies at Wanganui High in Mhondoro.
But, FC Platinum coach, Norman Mapeza is certain that Kaitano is going to endure a reduced role.
He believes that had the schools not been closed, Kaitano could not have experienced this privilege.
Mapeza feels the reopening of schools is going to weigh down heavily on Kaiton.
He pleaded with PSL to grant permission to such recruits the freedom to play for developmental side while also registered in PSL to get game time.
“My wish is if PSL could allow these youngsters to play for our division one side to get more game time because he is now registered with us but the competition in the team is really tough for him.
“He still needs to improve more for him to command a first team jersey and I hope he will continue working hard.
“We are going to try to give him the opportunity but it’s going to be difficult once schools reopen because it means he is not going to be with us and his situation might be worse if the developmental side decides to also do morning sessions,” said Mapeza.
FC Platinum have an away assignment at struggling Cranborne Bullets at Nyamhunga in Kariba.
The champions have not recorded a win in their last five league fixtures.
But they will be hoping that success in the Chibuku Super Cup first round could have signalled a return to form.
Nesbert “Yabo” Saurchera’s Cranborne Bullets busted their five-game winless run when their triumphed over fellow basement side Black Rhinos.
Saruchera will be hoping that his young Turks can build on that win over Rhinos.
But FC Platinum know they cannot afford further slip-ups in the close title race and Mapeza, although wary of the Bullets’ threat, acknowledged as much.
“They (Cranborne Bullets) have been one of the better sides in the league and it’s unfortunate that their position doesn’t reflect the good football they have been displaying.
“We have been performing better than our opponents even in some of the games that we have lost and I feel sorry for my boys.
“In some games we have restricted our opponents to even get a corner kick and it tells you a lot about the work these boys have been putting in and we are going to Nyamhunga to try and get all the points,” Mapeza said.
leeroy
Online Reporter