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Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FC PLATINUM might be trailing in the Castle Lager Premiership race, but Norman Mapeza is far from worried. The four-time title-winning coach has issued a calm yet confident warning to rivals — not to rule out his side just yet.
Despite an underwhelming start to the campaign, which has seen surprise newcomers MWOS storm to the top after seven rounds, Mapeza remains unfazed. His FC Platinum are still unbeaten — one of only two sides with that record — but six draws in seven games have left them languishing in 10th place with just nine points.
Lloyd Mutasa’s MWOS have amassed 17 points and are three points clear of the competition at this stage.
FC Platinum are eight points adrift of the PSL new boys, who extended their lead at the top after flooring giants Dynamos in their inaugural home match at Ngoni, in Norton.
But after watching his side dominate play in Easter Monday’s 1-1 draw against star-studded Scottland, Mapeza was convinced his side could still bounce back into the title mix, as he evoked memories of 2008 when he had a similar start with Monomotapa and went on to lift his first league title as head coach.
But his team’s major let-down has been the failure to convert chances into goals, which has also affected their win ratio.
“We are okay, we are okay,” he said emphatically.
“I’m not going to put myself under unnecessary pressure because we are not scoring. We are doing well, it will happen. I was at Monomotapa in 2008, we lost four games.
“But by this time of the season we were sitting on nine points. It’s more of the same — seven games, nine points. Anything can happen, it’s more of the same.
“I’ve been in this situation before and I’m not going to panic. I don’t want to put these kids under pressure. They are working so hard, they played well (on Monday).
“It was a massive game of football. So, results will come. We just need to be patient, and we just need to keep believing.”
Midfielder Jarrison Selemani ended the team’s goal drought, after they had failed to find the back of the net in three previous games in succession. Selemani was at hand with a brilliant goal to earn the platinum miners an important away point.
Defensively, FC Platinum have one of the best rearguards in the league, having conceded only twice.
But they need to do more going forward as they have scored only three goals in seven starts.
With a bit of luck, they could have snatched maximum points against Scottland had Brian Banda put away a sitter following a spill by Scottland goalkeeper Nelson Chadya from a freekick midway through the second half.
“We still have to do more. We have to do more; we have to do more. If you look at that opportunity they scored, we gave away possession unnecessarily.
“But look, if we are going to play like this, mistakes are bound to happen. But look, I cannot say maybe it’s a relief because we scored.
“We have to score goals; the opportunities have been there. Thando (Ngwenya) had an opportunity, Brian (Banda) had an opportunity, so we have to score goals at the end of the day. But I get relief from the positives we had in this game,” said Mapeza.
The platinum miners held the fans spellbound with some breathtaking passing football at Rufaro on Monday.
Mapeza has been rebuilding his side after losing key players that participated in the team’s dominant years when they won four league titles in succession. He revealed he was impressed by the shape his side is taking.
“We have been playing some quality football; we have been creating opportunities. But it’s football at the end of the day, it’s a process. We just need to keep working hard, just need to keep working hard.
“Also, the boys just need to keep believing that it will happen, it will happen,” he said.
Online Reporter