Online Reporter
Mugove Chigada
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHEN Scottland walk into Barbourfields on Sunday to face Highlanders, their X-factor could well be the man in the dugout – Norman Mapeza.
At MatchDay 23, Mapeza holds the benchmark for most points collected by eventual champions – 52 points.
Scottland currently sit top of the Castle Lager Premiership on 49 points, seven clear of Hardrock.
Should they beat Highlanders and make it 10 consecutive wins, Mapeza will equal the very record he set when he inspired FC Platinum to the second of their four titles.
Since 2017, among eventual champions, it is FC Platinum who hold that record of 52 points after 23 games.
Already, after Matchday 22, FC Platinum also sit second on that particular table with 47 points collected in the 2021/22 season, again under Mapeza.
Last year, Scottland managed 40 points from their first 22 games under coach Tonderai Ndiraya before they were eventually crowned champions.
The 2024 champions, Simba Bhora, were on 42 points after 22 games under Ndiraya.
The 2023 champions, Ngezi Platinum, were also on 42 points after 22 games under Takesure Chiragwi.
Mapeza himself also managed 42 points after 22 games in 2017 when he won his first title with FC Platinum.
FC Platinum also hold the lowest points total by eventual champions in the period under review, recorded in 2019, 37 points.
Mapeza was coach at the start before Lizwe Sweswe saw it over the line.
“For us it is one game at a time and we will see at the end of the season,” Mapeza said after their last victory over TelOne.
And he made no attempt to hide how his quality players have turned Scottland into a formidable proposition that could help him equal the 2018 record.
“It’s those guys, Khama (Billiat), Knowledge (Musona), Walter (Musona)… Shidolo (Moses) supporting the attack and dropping back to give us a defensive shield.
“Everyone has been doing their job,” said Mapeza.
He added that the defence and goalkeeper have also been crucial to a winning streak that has yielded 10 clean sheets.
Yet against Highlanders, they face an opponent also refined in approach and perfectly capable of causing a major upset, a contest between two former Warriors captains.
Benjani has been slow off the blocks, but growing with each game in charge of Bosso.
In many ways, this is a stern examination for both.
But if you are looking for a side desperate to haul themselves out of the mire, look no further than CAPS United.
The Green Machine, who travel to face Manica Diamonds at Sakubva, are swimming against the tide.
No team has been crowned champions after collecting fewer than 37 points from the first 22 games since the PSL expanded to 18 teams in 2017.
And CAPS are on 36.
Yet in the post-Covid-19 era, this is the first time CAPS United have reached at least 36 points after 22 games as they seek to climb back to the summit.
In similarly murky waters have been city rivals Dynamos over the past years, before the recent resurgence.
Since the PSL became an 18-team league in 2017, this is only the second time Dynamos have recorded at least 40 points after 22 games.
Lloyd Mutasa was the last coach to deliver 40 points or more for Dynamos after 22 games.
He managed 45 points in 2017.
