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From Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
NORMAN Mapeza is hopeful that better things will come FC Platinum’s way after lifting the Commander ZNA’s Charities Trophy on Saturday. They thumped eight-man Caps United 6-0 at Mandava. “I have always said that football is my life and I am a professional. “I might have lost two games with FC Platinum but everyone should understand that I have been in charge of the team for just two weeks and my team played four games in the league.
“I am still coming up with a team and I need time and I am not under any pressure. I came to FC Platinum because they offered me a job.
“In football you win, lose, draw and people should not panic that we lost two games because it’s part of football. I will do my best here and if I feel that I have failed I will just advise the powers that be and then tender my resignation,” Mapeza said soon after beating Caps United.
Mapeza used some players who had not been active since his arrival.
He only had captain Daniel Veremu.
After missing Premiership action for a while as a coach, Mapeza has already lifted a trophy in only two weeks in Zvishavane.
His club is still in the running for the Chibuku Super Cup and he still has a chance to win the league if Dynamos and Highlanders falter along the way.
Mapeza replaced Lloyd Mutasa after 18 games in the league and he still believes that anything can happen in football and he would not be surprised if his team is crowned champions at the end of the season.
On Saturday, Mapeza fielded Petros Mhari, Raphael Muduviwa, Kevin Moyo, Gift Bello, James Marufu and Tatenda Dzumbunu and forgotten striker Nelson Maziwisa.
Since his arrival he has not had all players in action but will be happy with their performance against Caps United on Saturday.
On his arrival, Mapeza was quick to emphasize that he was under no pressure for any result. He said he was there to build a team for next year.
Caps United had three players expelled during the game.
Zvishavane based referee Rugare Kusosa and his assistants gave marching orders to George Nyirenda, David Chipala and Hardlife Zvirekwi.
“The referee nearly played our Charity Cup down besides killing the spirit. We are just happy that besides the red cards Caps United continued with play and managed to complete the match,” said a member of the organising committee.
A number of Caps United fans and neutrals streamed out of the stadium when Zvirekwi was given the last red card that left Makepekepe with eight players on the field.
At the end of the match, Caps United’s Taurai Mangwiro refused to comment on the match officiating but chose to apologise to the Green Machine family and all football fans in Zimbabwe for the events at Mandava.
“What happened here is a disgrace to Zimbabwean football. I am sorry to the Caps United family and all the Zimbabweans,” said Mangwiro.
Caps, who nearly failed to travel to Bulawayo for a mid-week fixture, continue to hit the headlines.
The team is having financial challenges.
The winning coach also weighed in: “I was happy to lift my first silverware with FC Platinum but unfortunately some guys were sent off. My boys did well but the sending off of the Caps United players disrupted everything,” said an elated Mapeza.
Platinum were in full control of the match and the behaviour of some Caps United players could have been a way of downplaying the victory by the miners as the Kugona Kunenge Kudada machine was well oiled with Zambian import Obrey Chirwa scoring his first hat-trick since joining the platinum miners last season.
Besides the red cards drama, it was a match played in a peaceful atmosphere although the match did not attract a big number of fans as most Highlanders and Dynamos fans had travelled to the capital to watch the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup tie.
The prizemoney was not disclosed but both teams will receive a token of appreciation for taking part in the worthy cause.
Online Reporter