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Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
NORMAN Mapeza visibly cuts the image of a gritty, temperamental, and firm coach.
To some, he is also a perfectionist and hard-to-please gaffer who barely publicly acknowledges individual brilliance.
The coach of current log leaders and former Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions, FC Platinum, is so animated on the touchline that many agree he is virtually impossible to contain. Yet there is a circle that shares a different view.
Those familiar with his softer side view him as a football man, who has a deep passion for the game.
The June PSL Coach of the Month currently sits top on the log standings with 38 points from 18 games, five ahead of second-placed Ngezi Platinum Stars and Simba Bhora.
His followers, however, acknowledge that it takes patience to understand his softer side.
Many do not know that Mapeza is a keen footballer, who spends most of his time studying the game. At home, he mostly talks about football — but barely with the vigour, he shows on the touchline.
Among those who understand and appreciate him is Ngezi Platinum Stars head coach Takesure “Deco” Chiragwi.
The reigning Coach of the Year shared revelations about the gaffer whom he appreciates for immensely contributing to his journey into coaching. The two developed a relationship in 2004 when Mapeza was a player-assistant coach at CAPS United.
He would take Chiragwi to his home, where he shared stories about his football journey to motivate him.
“He became my brother and mentor, often telling me motivational stories and assuring me that with discipline and hard work, we could achieve a lot. I view him as a big brother who moulded me on and off the pitch; when I joined Shabannie Mine, he would follow up and help,” said Chiragwi.
This week, the two coaches lock horns at Mandava in a top-of-the-table clash.
Mapeza joined the platinum miners in 2014, taking over from Lloyd Mutasa, before transforming the Zvishavane-based side into a formidable force in domestic football.
Last season, he went on a rebuilding exercise that saw him finish the PSL marathon in position four, missing out on setting a new domestic record of winning five titles in a row for FC Platinum.
His “new” mean machine has so far lost only twice and drawn five times this season.
In his process of transforming Mandava into a fortress, Mapeza at some point worked with Alexio Sigion, who was in charge of FC Platinum’s developmental side.
“He treated me like a younger brother, I look at him as more than a coach. He would prepare beef bones and invite me over to his place to feast,” recalls Sigion.
“We chat about football, he taught me a lot and what many do not know is that off the pitch, he is a soft guy who can joke and laugh about anything.”
Recently, the gaffer hogged the limelight, being accused of poor player management and “military” training routines by a national team player, while he was in charge of the Warriors at the Four Nations Tournament in Malawi.
The social media went into overdrive as fans expressed diverse views on his leadership style.
His former player, Walter Musona, who now captains Simba Bhora had his name thrown into the conversations, with some blaming Mapeza for his (Musona’s) departure from Zvishavane.
The 2023 Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Star of the Year was last season reportedly in trouble with the champions over disciplinary problems. Resultantly, he missed some of his matches despite being one of the key players.
Yet he speaks highly of Mapeza whom he adores.
“We had some issues but I am happy we found our way back to each other; we talk perfectly fine,” he said.
“I look at him like a father for his parental love; returning from South Africa, he took me and gave me another shot at life.
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