tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
DEFENDING champions FC Platinum might have suffered a morale-sapping defeat against Highlanders at the weekend but their next opponents Bulawayo Chiefs are not reading much into that.
FC Platinum lost a league match against Bosso for the first time since 2014 when they went down 1-2 at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday.
It was also Highlanders’ first league victory over the miners at their Barbourfields since 2013.
That defeat left FC Platinum on six points, one behind early pacesetters Dynamos, CAPS United and Highlanders.
They now have a chance to redeem themselves, albeit against bogey side Bulawayo Chiefs at Mandava Stadium on Good Friday.
Matches between FC Platinum and Bulawayo Chiefs have always been close and interesting.
Last season, the teams shared a win apiece, with Bulawayo Chiefs winning 2-0 at Luveve before going down 0-1 at Mandava in the reverse fixture.
However, this year’s match-ups between the two sides have been spiced up by the appointment of Lizwe Sweswe as Bulawayo Chiefs coach.
Sweswe worked as Norman Mapeza’s assistant coach at FC Platinum before temporarily assuming the reins when the latter took up the job at South African side Chippa United.
And Sweswe thinks his previous stint at FC Platinum makes this league fixture exciting.
He was at Mandava recently when Chiefs lost 0-2 to FC Platinum in the Castle Lager Challenge Cup.
“It’s a big game; we are playing against the champions,” Sweswe told the media on Wednesday.
“But, all in all, I think the boys are ready because they know the challenge that awaits them.
“We respect FC Platinum, they are a good team and they have been together for some years.
“But, with the team we have now, I think the way we have tried to combine them they are ready for the job.”
Sweswe says he will not read much into FC Platinum’s loss against Highlanders.
“We are not really reading much into their defeat against Highlanders.
“We can’t count on that because when you analyse the game, you could see the important moments when they (FC Platinum) have got the ball; without the ball, their entries into the box, ball possession, they are a complete team.
“What is important is to try and prepare ourselves and get a good result at Mandava.
“I think there are one or two things we picked up on FC Platinum, we worked on them at training. I hope it will come right when we get there.”
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu