adminBruce Chikuni recently in ZVISHAVANE
NORMAN Mapeza’s passion to maintain FC Platinum’s dominance in domestic football doesn’t appear to be fading anytime soon.
He still wants to win all the major silverware available in the local Premiership.
On Saturday, he added the Castle Challenge Cup to his team’s growing list of achievements after a routine 2-0 win over Bulawayo Chiefs at Mandava. Mapeza seems to add the right players, every time he strengthens his team.
His latest addition, Jarrison Selemani, the former Dynamos midfielder, impressed on Saturday with an assist and a goal for the platinum miners.
The ZTN Sport team voted Selemani as the man-of-the-match. But, Mapeza begged to differ and picked debutant defender, Misheck Ngwenya, for the award.
“It was a good game for us, we played well in our first competitive match of the season, and I have to give it to the boys,” said the coach.
“I’m not concerned about our fitness levels, I think were are not bad, the boys have been working really hard. Selemani had a brilliant game and you all saw what he can do, but I think Ngwenya was overlooked.
“For me, he was the most outstanding and I’m really happy for him.”
Panashe Mutimbanyoka and Selemani were on target.
The duo, who are both wingers, were a handful for the Ninjas defence. It means the miners have now won the cup four times in succession.
It features the league’s champions and winners of the country’s flagship knockout competition, Chibuku Super Cup. The match was played before a decent crowd.
The PSL leadership gave the nod to children, who are below the age of 13, to watch this fixture for free. For FC Platinum, it was an expected boost ahead of the new season which is set to get underway this weekend.
The hosts squandered numerous chances to inflict more pain on the visitors.
The introduction of another former Ngezi player, Last Jesi, who was cheered by a portion of fans each time he received the ball, got the Bulawayo side in the game, albeit too late.
The 2015 Soccer Star of the year, Danny Phiri, showed his experience in midfield but he was overshadowed by FC Platinum’s Hagiazo Magaya, who detected the pace for the better part of the game.
Forward Kuda Musharu was a surprising addition in Chiefs’ starting XI and the 36-year-old under par performance saw him being replaced at the break.
The reigning Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Star of the year, Walter Musona, started from the bench and he tormented Chiefs defence when he was introduced after the break.
Bulawayo Chiefs coach, Lizwe Sweswe, who was appointed last month, said he is confident his men will post better results once their combinations begin to click.
“This is not the result which we came here for but that’s football. We are building from scratch since we lost several key players who were here last season.
“But I’m confident that these boys have what it takes to give a fight this season, we are still working on combinations and once we get in the groove, I’m sure good results will come,” said Sweswe.
Online Reporter