adminNORMAN Mapeza says the Chibuku Super Cup would have been a bonus had they won it and he now wants his men to focus on the big one.
FC Platinum fell to a shock defeat, in their home semi-final, at the hands of Herentals on Sunday.
It means Mapeza and his men are unable to complete a League and Cup double this year.
“Winning this one [Chibuku Super Cup] could have been a bonus, but it wasn’t meant to be. I’m proud of the team and how they applied themselves,” said Mapeza.
“Our focus now shifts.
“At this point, we have to move on and focus on the league. Congratulations to Herentals.
“Losing on penalties is part of the game, you win or lose. It’s a 50/50 situation. It’s a lottery, nothing is guaranteed.”
He added: “Our focus now is on the remaining league games. We hope to succeed in the next tournaments, but for now, the league is our priority.
“We now channel all the energy towards the remaining games, which we hope to finish on a high note. “It’s the last few games, and teams are racing towards meeting their season’s objectives.
“Some are fighting to preserve their Premiership status, some for top four and eight. Ours is to remain on top by winning the remaining matches,” he said.
They face CAPS United in the next league match at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Before the Covid pandemic, FC Platinum won the 2019 league title, their third, and the 2019 edition of the Chibuku Super Cup.
They went on to clinch the 2021 Chibuku Super Cup, which was the first football tournament, after lockdown restrictions were lifted.
It was a curtain-raiser to the current Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.
However, on Sunday, they were left stunned when their stranglehold in the cup competition was broken by the Students.
Walter Musona scored for the platinum miners before Avi Mataranyika restored parity in the dying moments of the encounter leading to penalties. – Sports Reporter/FARPost
Online Reporter