Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, [email protected].
FC PLATINUM head coach Norman Mapeza has voiced his concerns about the lack of creativity in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL), urging domestic players to broaden their horizons by watching top European leagues to learn from world-class talent.
Mapeza, a former Warriors captain and one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated football figures, made the call following his team’s 1-1 draw against Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.
Despite the result, Mapeza’s focus shifted to a pressing issue that he believes is hindering the growth of local football — the absence of truly creative players in the PSL.
Speaking to the media after the match, Mapeza lamented the fact that domestic football is lacking players with the flair and skill seen in Europe’s elite competitions.
He singled out the likes of Vinicius Júnior of Real Madrid and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho as examples of players who possess the kind of creativity Zimbabwean players need to embrace.
“As coaches, we can’t teach players everything. They should watch and learn from these leagues on TV. Right now, we don’t have a single player in the domestic league who can take free kicks,” said Mapeza.
The veteran coach believes exposure to top European football is vital for the development of Zimbabwean players, particularly in terms of creativity and technique.
He stressed that watching world-class talent in action could help local players understand how the skills they practice in training can be translated into actual match situations.
“These guys need to learn. Sometimes they need to go and watch football on TV because they might think whatever we are trying to do on the training field doesn’t exist. They should go and watch it on TV; it happens,” said Mapeza.
“We are not teaching something that we do not know. We are teaching something that we know can happen. So we need to have that belief in the players in what we are teaching them. What we are teaching them is happening all over week in, week out. Go watch Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal—these teams are doing these things we are trying to teach. Why can’t we do those things here?”
Mapeza’s remarks come as part of his on-going mission to uplift the standard of football in Zimbabwe. Despite his success at FC Platinum, where he has won league titles and other tournaments, Mapeza is not satisfied with just results.
He is keen to see a more innovative, creative brand of football emerge from the PSL. The lack of such players, he believes, is a major gap that needs to be addressed for Zimbabwean football to thrive on the international stage.
As someone who played in top leagues, including a memorable stint with Turkish giants Galatasaray, Mapeza has experienced first hand the level of professionalism, technical skill and creativity required to succeed at the highest level.
His call to local players to “watch and learn” from Europe’s best is a direct reflection of his own experiences, where he believes players can expand their understanding of the game and improve their craft. — @innocentskizoe
