Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND coach Norman Mapeza has admitted pressure is coming “from all corners of the country” as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League leaders protect a three-point advantage while competing for three domestic honours and preparing for their maiden CAF Champions League campaign.
Scottland have 57 points, three more than nearest challengers Hardrock, with seven league matches remaining.
They are also through to the last 16 of the Chibuku Super Cup and the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, where they face Northern Region Division One side MWOS Under-19 this weekend.
Their CAF Champions League campaign begins with a preliminary-round tie against Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs.
“Look, we have been working, and we know exactly our position on the log. There is a lot of pressure, of course, coming from all corners of the country,” said Mapeza.
“We just need to know our set objectives and keep working hard towards those set objectives because, with foot-ball, there is always pressure.”
Scottland recently played three demanding matches in 10 days, beginning with the Chibuku Super Cup tie against FC Platinum before league assignments against Dynamos and Simba Bhora.
“Games are coming thick and fast. If you look at our fixtures, the week before last, I think, we had a game on Friday against FC Platinum, which was not easy at all. It was a Cup game.
“Then on Wednesday we played Dynamos, and it was a very taxing game. Then we went on to play Simba Bhora, again another difficult game within a space of 10 days,” said Mapeza.
The veteran coach had appeared to settle on a preferred starting XI as Scottland surged to the top of the table, winning 10 of their last 11 league matches.
The demands of competing on several fronts have forced him to rotate his squad more regularly.
“It’s all about managing the recovery periods of the boys. If you look at all those fixtures, we played FC Oden first in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, and I think we used some other players against Oden.
“Then when we played FC Platinum, we also rested some other guys. During that time, we had some guys who were not feeling well because of the flu bug, so we rested them as well.
“Then when we played Dynamos, players like Knowledge and Walter, we gave them a rest. When we went to Simba Bhora, we also gave some other guys a run.
“So, it’s about managing that squad rotation, bringing in maybe four guys with fresh legs. I think so far it has helped us. So, I will keep doing the same thing where I think it is needed,” said Mapeza. Scottland added Seth Patrick, Al-Ameen Kehinde Tijani, Stoffel Witbeen, Neville Tengeg, Anderson Cardoso de Campos and Emmanuel Jalai during the mid-season transfer window, giving Mapeza more options.
Although Scottland have dropped points in recent weeks, including a defeat to Highlanders and draws against MWOS and Dynamos, Mapeza said they remained focused on their targets.
“Of course, we could have done better in the last five games. But those were very, very difficult games. Even if you look at our points tally, in the first half of the season, we struggled a bit when we went through that phase of those five games I’ve mentioned.
“But, you know, the unity within the club, I think, has pushed us to where we are as of now,” said Mapeza.
