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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS FC Platinum might have started the season on a promising note in defence of their title but their coach Norman Mapeza is unsettled by the defensive flaws that have manifested early in the season.
If ever there is anything that threatens the successful defence of their title, it is their vulnerability at the back and Mapeza knows it.
The platinum miners have shipped in at least a goal in four of the five games they have played so far. Worse, they have had to concede first on all occasions.
The only match they have not conceded a goal was in the 1-0 win over Cranborne Bullets at Mandava. Last week they had to come back from the dead and rescue a point in the top of the table clash with CAPS United that ended 1-1 at the National Sports Stadium.
FC Platinum’s defensive defects showed from the opening game of the season when they had to come from behind and overpower new boys Simba Bhora 2-1 courtesy of a brace from Juan Mutudza in the last 10 minutes of the game.
They also conceded first against Bulawayo Chiefs and Highlanders. But on three occasions they managed to come back and avoided defeat, except in the 2-1 defeat to Highlanders at Barbourfields.
Stung by the way his team has been letting in goals, Mapeza told journalists yesterday that the reigning Castle Lager Premiership champions are hard at work to plug the leakages. “I will give you an example of a boxing game,” he said.
“If you are in the habit of getting knocked down first and then get up and win, I am sure in one of the bouts you will get a hard punch and you will not even recover.
“So I spoke about it after the CAPS United game, I am really worried about it. As a coach, it gives me worries because we have been conceding. If you look at our last five games, we have been conceding in each and every game and it’s something that we are trying to address.
“It’s something which we have been trying to address as well during our training sessions. But in any football game, it will be difficult.
“Sometimes you can recover and if you fail to recover then you end up losing the game. It happened when we played Highlanders. We couldn’t recover.
“So it’s a habit which needs to change. We have addressed the issue with the boys and I think we will see some improvements, come the Saturday game,” said Mapeza.
FC Platinum are set to host Triangle at Mandava tomorrow.
The Zvishavane side has one of the poorly performing defences so far in the season, if statistics are anything to go by. Together with Hwange, they are the only two teams among the top 10 in the current log standings that have conceded five goals in as many matches.
Cranborne Bullets, who sit second from the bottom of the table, have conceded less after letting in only three goals.
Mapeza wants to see more from his defence comprising the likes of rightback Gift Mbweti, Kelvin Mangiza, Nomore Chinyerere, Lawrence Mhlanga, Misheck Ngwenya and veteran Gift Bello who is currently nursing an injury.
Their handicap was first exposed by new boys Simba Bhora who breached their goal via experienced midfielder Ronald Chitiyo and took an unexpected lead in the season opener.
However, Juan Mutudza scored twice late in the game to help defending champions FC Platinum bounce back from a goal down and claim maximum points at the National Sports Stadium.
They beat Cranborne Bullets 1-0 in the second game. But the flaws came back to haunt them against giants Highlanders who raced to a two-goal lead in the first half with goals from Stanley Ngala and Peter Muduhwa.
This time they could not recover fully and they fell 1-2 despite a Walter Musona late strike at Barbourfields.
Bulawayo Chiefs threatened to inflict a second consecutive defeat in the next match when they surged into an early lead through Obrey Chirinda.
But Musona and Innocent Mucheneka performed another rescue mission in either half to hand the Zvishavane side a 2-1 win at home.
Then, veteran winger Perfect Chikwende was the hero last week with an 86th minute equaliser as FC Platinum came from behind to salvage 1-1 draw against log leaders CAPS United.
CAPS United had led for most of the game courtesy William Manondo’s first half goal. Mapeza would want to see a change tomorrow against Triangle, who he rates highly after collecting eight points, two less of FC Platinum, in the opening five games.
“We are playing a very good team. If you look at their past games they have been doing well. I think they have managed to win two games and have a draw and a defeat.
“That’s not a bad record. It’s not going to be easy for us but mentally and physically I think we are ready for the game,” said Mapeza.
Online Reporter