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Sibhekisipho Fayayo
With the 2016 Castle Lager Premier soccer season still in its infancy signs are already there that FC Platinum is one of the teams bookmakers are strongly tipping to land the title.
If ever the Zvishavane based side are to land the championship it looks like the most of the donkey work would have been done in the midfield, a department where most of the teama��s new signings play in.
New midfield arrivals, Nqobizitha Masuku, Hillary Bakacheza, Rodwell Chinyengetere and Ishmael Wadi are proving to be worthy additions as they have all hit the ground running in their new team and that looks likely to pose all sorts of headaches for Mapeza when it comes to team selection in that department.
The Zvishavane based team has played two games in the league and have won both of them beating Tsholotsho and Highlanders by identical 2-1 score lines.
They have also played four cup games this year winning two and losing the other two.
They lost to Highlanders twice in the semi-finals and on penalties after the match had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Firstly it was in the Zimbabwe National Army Commandera��s Charities Shield where they lost 4-3 in the penalties after the match had ended 1-1 in regulation time. To reach the semi finals they had beaten How Mine 2-1 in the quarter finals.
They then lost in the Independence Cup 3-1. However, they redeemed themselves when they beat Dynamos 2-0 in the third place play-off of the Uhuru Cup at White City Stadium.
In all these matches what has been of great interest has been coach, Norman Mapezaa��s squad rotation especially in midfield where the arrival of new signings has created fierce competition for first team jersey.
Mapeza gave almost all his squad members a run around especially in the four cup matches where he virtually fielded a different squad in all the matches.
However, if the two league matches are anything to go by then in central midfield Masuku seems to have relegated Gerald Takwara to the bench as he has been the partner in crime to hard man Winston Mhango in that holding midfield pairing.
Masuku started in all the two league matches against Bosso and Tsholotsho and capped his fine performance by scoring on his debut against Iziqholo zeZhwane.
Takwara, who had a fairy tale rise to stardom in his debut season last year which saw him being the only player to be called for national duty from Tsholotsho FC and ultimately joining FC Platinum, is yet to start a league match this season. He was an unused substitute in the first game before coming on as a substitute in the second game against Bosso.
His only starts came in the Independence cup semi final loss to Bosso and the third place play-off win against DeMbare in the same competition.
Along with Mhango, Walter Musona seems to be the only linkmen to have kept his place from last season as Bakacheza, formerly with Triangle and former Hwange Chinyengetere, who both can also play as second strikers are also making sure that FC Platinum lines up differently from what they used to be last season.
Coach Mapeza believes the competition is healthy as every player is afforded equal opportunity at training to showcase his talent.
a�?There is competition in every department as every player is given an opportunity to train. So if you fail to perform at training you cana��t play in the match,a�? said Mapeza.
A fierce battle looms in that department as there is also Wadi a skillful and pacey winger, Warriors player Marshal Mudehwe, Tatenda Dzumbunu, Simon Shoko Raphael Muduviwa and Brian Muzondiwa.
Online Reporter