Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND coach Norman Mapeza has admitted going back to Mandava for a date against his former team FC Platinum will be an emotional moment given the long period he worked for the Zvishavane-based side.
Mapeza won three titles with FC Platinum before crossing the floor at the beginning of this season to join champions Scottland.
“I have been in Zvishavane for nearly a decade. I have friends and it was like my second home. So, it’s an emotional feeling going back to a place where I grew up as a coach,” Mapeza said.
The move to join Scottland came as a surprise as FC Platinum were regarded as one of the most stable clubs in the Premiership, known for not hiring and firing coaches.
Then, Mapeza said the separation was mutual.
But on Saturday, Mapeza will have to spoil the party in Zvishavane.
“I’m going there to play football. I’m at Scottland now and it’s important to go there and come up with a positive result.”
Scottland are coming from a 2-1 loss to Simba Bhora, their first defeat of the 2026 Castle Lager Premiership season.
Mapeza says they have to overcome that disappointment.
“They (players) tend to struggle mentally… I spoke to the boys when we started training on Tuesday . . . It’s a game of football. In this industry, it’s part of the journey.
“There was a point where we were going to drop points and it happened on Sunday,” he said.
The Scottland coach believes they were just unlucky.
“But in terms of performance, in the first half, we played very well. If we had buried those chances, maybe we would be talking a different story.
“But it’s all part of the game. We have been working in training . . . The goals we conceded, we could have avoided.”
From that battle, Scottland lost more than just points, but a number of players suffered injuries.
“. . . There were some moments I felt there were some hard tackles.
“If you look at Knowledge Musona, he finished the game with a swollen ankle, Kingsley (Mureremba) had a problem with his ankle, Khama (Billiat) is out. He is having a problem with his groin. Terrence is out and Chakuchichi is also out.”
Scottland can possibly win matches when their coach stops referring to 35 year olds as boys. Football is not politics where youths age starts at 45 years.