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Langton Nyakwenda
FC PLATINUM have played 177 league matches at Mandava Stadium since 2011, when they gained promotion into the Premiership.
In that period, they have lost 21 games at home, in a top-flight league journey that kicked off with a historic 2-0 win over Shooting Stars on March 26, 2011.
Consequently, the probability of FC Platinum losing a league match at Mandava is a mere 12 percent.
Interestingly, the miners have suffered just 11 home defeats in 122 outings since the arrival of Norman Mapeza on August 11, 2014.
It is this impressive home record that has formed the rock upon which FC Platinum’s Premiership dominance was built in the last four seasons.
Last year, they lost once at home — against Ngezi Platinum Stars — on their way to a record-equalling fourth straight league championship.
Only Dynamos and Highlanders have previously achieved that feat.
But this term, Mapeza’s team has already suffered three home defeats in 18 rounds of action.
Last weekend’s 1-2 loss to Simba Bhora was their third consecutive defeat at Mandava, following setbacks against Yadah and Sheasham.
This is the first time FC Platinum have suffered three consecutive defeats at home since their promotion 12 years ago.
They are also winless in their last five league games — their second five-match barren spell of the season — and are now 12 points behind log leaders Highlanders at the half-way stage.
Mapeza’s team had accumulated 37 points after Match Day 18 of the 2021/2022 season.
This season, they have managed 26 points.
Wheels coming off?
The big question in the elite league has been whether the wheels are coming off the champions’ wagon.
Some believe they have been affected by sharing their fortress, Mandava, with Herentals and Simba Bhora.
But FC Platinum are not the only team in the league sharing a venue.
Log leaders Highlanders share Barbourfields with their biggest rivals Dynamos.
At one stage, CAPS United also used Barbourfields before opting for Bata Stadium in Gweru.
Second-placed Ngezi Platinum Stars are sharing with Yadah Stars.
Manica Diamonds, who are in the top four and only six points behind Bosso, are sharing Gibbo with Triangle United and Green Fuel.
Well before FC Platinum started sharing Mandava, there was already a chink in their armour.
They were held to a 1-1 draw by then-winless Triangle in Match Day Six, a few weeks after they had lost to Highlanders for the first time in nine years.
FC Platinum also failed to beat Manica Diamonds at home.
But in Mapeza, the Zvishavane giants have an experienced coach capable of turning things around.
Mapeza has been backed by former Bulawayo Chiefs coach Garthly Chipuka to rise again.
“FC Platinum will soon get it right, and when they get back into the groove, no team will stop them,” said Chipuka.
“Whatever it is that is affecting them, I am sure they will find a solution, and the quicker they do so, then the danger for the other teams.
“I also think FC Platinum players might be suffering from mental fatigue; they seem not to be doing what their coach is telling them.
“If they fail to arrest their decline early, then it will be too late to catch up.”
The frontline trio of reigning Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and Panashe Mutimbanyoka, which powered FC Platinum last season, has been largely anonymous.
While Musona has scored five times, his partners are yet to find their range.
Bosso on a roll
Away from FC Platinum’s woes, Highlanders are looking more like they could end a 17-year wait for the league title.
Although there are still 16 games to play, Highlanders have boldly declared their intentions as they remain unbeaten in 18 matches.
They have the best defence in the league, having conceded four goals in 1 620 minutes of action.
Only four teams — FC Platinum, Cranborne Bullets, CAPS United and Green Fuel — have scored against Bosso.
“As long as opposition coaches keep failing to read how Highlanders are playing, then nothing will stop them from clinching the title, although it’s too early to talk about that,” said Chipuka.
“Bosso play the same way every game. They are mostly a defensive side; that is why they have so many 1-0 wins.
“I also think Highlanders are not that far away from the chasing pack; they have eight draws from 18 games, and that tells you something.”
Former Beta XI assistant coach Arnold Dangarembizi attributes Highlanders’ success to continuity.
“Coach Brito has managed to get his philosophy through to his players and they now understand their roles very well.
“Highlanders have played every game with unity.”
Dangarembizi believes the championship will be a five-horse race involving Highlanders, Ngezi Platinum Stars, Manica Diamonds, Dynamos and FC Platinum.
While Chipuka agrees with Dangarembizi on DeMbare’s chances of winning the league, he reckons the decision to fire Herbert Maruwa was premature.
Maruwa, who was fired last week, becomes the sixth coach to be sacked in the league this season.
Debutants Green Fuel were the first to pull the trigger when they dismissed Lloyd Mutasa after only one game in charge — a 1-0 defeat to Yadah on March 20.
He was replaced by Bekithemba Ndlovu, who was later shown the door in April after three losses and two draws.
Green Fuel have now found both the stability and direction since Rodwell Dhlakama took over.
The Ethanol Boys have played 12 games under Dhlakama, winning six, drawing three and losing as many matches.
Dhlakama has a 58 percent success rate.
While seven clubs have changed coaches, Highlanders, Ngezi, Manica Diamonds, Chicken Inn, FC Platinum, Herentals, CAPS United, Hwange, Simba Bhora, Triangle and Cranborne Bullets have maintained their technical benches.
The best coach in the league so far is Highlanders gaffer Brito, who is yet to taste defeat and has broken numerous records in the process.
In March, Highlanders beat Black Rhinos 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium, their first league win against Chauya Chipembere in Harare since 2017.
A few weeks later, Bosso beat FC Platinum in the league for the first time in nine years.
“Without doubt, Brito has put in place a team that I can say is the best at the moment,” said ZPC Kariba coach Luke Masomere.
“Their style is the best; it’s unmatched so far.”
ZPC Kariba started the season on a low and only picked up form when Masomere was appointed in June.
They are now 11th on the log after registering two wins and two draws in their last four matches.
Whereas the decision by ZPC Kariba to rope in Masomere is paying dividends, it is not the case at Rhinos, whose move to replace Stanford Mtizwa with Saul Chaminuka has so far failed to yield the desired results.
Rhinos anchor the standings with 12 points and are now destined for another return to Division One.
With two wins in 18 matches, Chauya Chipembere are enduring one of the worst seasons by a PSL club.
Fellow army side Cranborne Bullets are also struggling.
They are second from bottom going into the business end of the season.
However, Bullets have won many admirers with their passing game and ability to nurture players.
Two of their star players — Eric “Cantona” Manokore and Tadiwa Chibunyu — earned moves to CAPS United and Chicken Inn, respectively, during the mid-season window.
A handful of players have also stood head and shoulders above the rest in a largely competitive season.
The Highlanders duo of keeper Ariel Sibanda and defender Peter Muduhwa deserve special mention.
Tanaka Shandirwa qualifies to be the best signing of the season, as he has blossomed at Dynamos since his move from Yadah.
Obriel Chirinda (the league’s top scorer with nine goals), Donald Mudadi (Dynamos), Gareth Madhake (Ngezi Platinum Stars, Fortune Binzi (Manica Diamonds), Michael Charamba (Chicken Inn), Joseph Thulani (CAPS United), Brighton Makopa (Hwange), Walter Musona (FC Platinum) and Marvelous Mukumba (Ngezi Platinum Stars) are some of the players who have shone brightly so far.
In total, 162 Premiership games have been played and 286 goals have been scored at a rate of 1.77 per match.
Bulawayo Chiefs are the highest scorers with 23 goals, while Rhinos and Sheasham are the joint lowest scorers with nine goals each.
Yadah have the worst defence after conceding 25 times in 18 matches.
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Online Reporter