Online Reporter
Onward Gangata
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FC Platinum coach Joel Luphahla has praised his side for showing great resilience to shrug off the defensive frailties that dogged the team in the early stages of the Castle Lager Premiership football season.
After a wobbly start to the season in which they conceded 10 goals in the opening nine matches, the platinum miners are beginning to show maturity in how they defend.
They have now clocked 360 minutes of football without conceding a single goal, in the process bagging eight points out of a possible 12.
This past week, the former champions edged Chicken Inn 1-0 to register back-to-back victories and move into the top half of the table.
FC Platinum are now in eighth place with 19 points, and one player who has been at the centre of the Zvishavane side’s revival is goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi.
The former TelOne and Highlanders goal minder reunited with Luphahla at the Zvishavane side early this year, having previously worked together at TelOne and at Bosso.
Pitisi has overtaken Cameroonian Manfred Ekoi as the first-choice for Pure Platinum Play and was the hero last week when he saved a penalty against ZPC Kariba, showing his growing stature at the club.
However, Luphahla refused to attribute the good defensive show to just one player, insisting it is a team effort.
“We cannot give credit to the goalkeeper alone, when you are defending, it’s for the whole team, from the strikers to the goalkeeper,” he said.
“But he (Pitisi) has been good, he made two pin-point saves against ZPC Kariba, including a penalty, we have two of the best goalkeepers, and when you get an opportunity, you have to use it, he is using the opportunity.”
Despite restoring normalcy in the defensive areas, the former Warriors winger is still concerned by the team’s wastefulness upfront.
