adminPaul Mundandi in ZVISHAVANE
NORMAN Mapeza faces his biggest test, in his return to coaching, when FC Platinum host Highlanders at Mndava in a Castle Lager Premiership tie tomorrow.
Mapeza has led his team to two wins, one in a Cup tie and the other in a tough away league match against Black Rhinos, and there are grand expectations in this town that he could inspire the country’s richest football club to silverware.
A number of the country’s best coaches, including Rahman Gumbo, have come here but failed to take the team to the Promised Land.
‘We are looking for as positive result and also we want to improve our performance from the previous game,” assistant coach, Patrick Mandizha, said.
“Our aim is to remain focused because we don’t know what will happen when the season comes to an end. Our players are gaining confidence under Mapeza with each outing because it is a great honour to work with a coach who has played and seen it all at the highest level. I am also looking forward to gaining a lot from him.”
FC Platinum are only five points adrift of the leaders, Dynamos, in the championship race and with 30 points still to play for, they can push themselves into the race with a number of good results. Interestingly, when Dynamos hired Callisto Pasuwa to replace Lloyd Mutasa, in 2011, the team had played 18 games and their championship race was stuttering.
But Pasuwa turned it around, in the last 11 games, and came to Mandava and won 1-0 and the Glamour Boys were crowned champions.
Now Mapeza has also replaced Mutasa, this time at FC Platinum, after 18 games of the season, and whether they can go on a run and beat DeMbare, and the other teams, in the championship race, remains to be seen. Competition for jerseys is very high as a number of players, who were injured, are back in contention.
These include Wisdom Mutasa, Simon Shoko, Tarisai Rukanda, Livingstone Gent and Emmanuel Mawuna.
Stephen Sibanda, Allan Gahadzikwa and the exciting Marshall Mudehwe are still on the injury list.
Bosso arrive in Zvishavane boosted by their hard-fought 1-0 win over Triangle at Hartsfield on Thursday that saw them move within one point of leaders Dynamos. Leading goalscorer Charles Sibanda scored the priceless goal but Bosso were pushed so much by Biggie Zuze’s men it should give FC Platinum hope that, if they can bring their A-game, they will be able to get all three points in this tie.
PSL Fixtures
Today
Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Shabanie Mine (Hartsfield), ZPC Kariba v Bantu Rovers(Gwanzura)
Tomorrow
Buffaloes v Black Rhinos(Sakubva), Triangle United v Dynamos (Gibbo), Hwange v Chiredzi (Colliery) CAPS United v Chapungu (Rufaro) FC Platinum v Highlanders (Mandava)
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