Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND coach Norman Mapeza is banking on the depth of his squad as the champions brace for one of the biggest weeks in the club’s young history.
The Mabvuku side eased into the quarter-finals of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup with a 5-1 win over ZIFA Northern Region Division One side MWOS Under-19 at Rufaro on Sunday.
But there is little time to dwell on that result.
Scottland face FC Platinum in a crucial Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro tomorrow before making their maiden CAF Champions League appearance against Eswatini side Nsingizini Hotspurs at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Mapeza rested some of his key players against MWOS Under-19, including Khama Billiat and brothers Knowledge and Walter Musona, while handing valuable game time to the likes of Tymon Machope, Kingsley Mureremba and Valentine Macheka.
The changes paid off as Scottland cruised into the last eight, leaving Mapeza encouraged by the options at his disposal ahead of the two demanding assignments.
“On Wednesday (tomorrow) we are going to play FC Platinum and on Sunday we play Nsingizini Hotspurs.
“So, I just wanted to give some of the other guys a run and I am happy they gave us what we were looking for and from there I know exactly where we start to work,” said Mapeza.
The former Warriors coach believes every member of his 30-man squad has a part to play and rejected the suggestion that those who came in at the weekend should be regarded as fringe players.
“I don’t like to use the word fringe players because we have got 30 players who I believe are here because they are all good players.
“At any given time, they can give us what we will be looking for as a club. They have showed that we have enough depth. I am happy for the guys who came in and gave us goals.
“What we need to do now is to stay focused. We are now going to the last eight of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup. Now we put that aside and shift attention to the game against FC Platinum,” said Mapeza.
Scottland’s squad depth will come under scrutiny as they continue fighting on four fronts.
They lead the Premiership standings with 57 points, remain in contention in both the Chibuku Super Cup and Munhumutapa Challenge Cup and are preparing to enter the CAF Champions League for the first time.
Before they turn their attention to Sunday’s historic continental assignment, they face a difficult league test against an FC Platinum side showing signs of revival under new coach Thabo Senong.
Senong has made a promising start at Mandava since replacing Joel Luphahla, overseeing victories over AGAMA in the league and Blackrock in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
Working alongside former South Africa international Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane, Senong believes the platinum miners are moving in the right direction.
“I think we are in a good space to do our job properly,” said Senong.
“We have the support we need from everyone at FC Platinum. We have been welcomed very well by the supporters as well.
“So far, everything is okay and our responsibility is simply to continue doing our job.”
For Mapeza, the assignments have to be taken one at a time.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup has been parked for now.
FC Platinum come first tomorrow before Scottland turn to the biggest continental assignment of their short history at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
