‘Wishes granted, but nowhere to hide’

Mugove Chigada-Deputy Sports Editor

FOOTBALL greats Peter Ndlovu, Norman Mapeza, Benjani Mwaruwari, Tinashe Nengomasha and Joel Luphahla’s involvement with PSL clubs in different capacities could be the beginning of a new era for Zimbabwean football.

The legends have in the past been Warriors captains, key players, or both.

Yesterday one of the coaches, Joel Luphahla, who is entering his second year as PSL coach in charge of FC Platinum, said these are exciting times, but they come with greater responsibility.

“We have always been clamouring for this, and our wishes have been granted. These are exciting times, but there is nowhere to hide,” Luphahla told Zimpapers Sports Hub in an exclusive interview yesterday.

Mapeza, a former Warriors captain, is head coach for Scottland, with another former captain, Ndlovu, as team manager at the same team.

Tinashe Nengomasha recently moved from Ngezi Platinum to join CAPS United as team manager where he will work with head coach Takesure Chiragwi.

Another former Warriors captain Mwaruwari on the other hand was appointed Highlanders coach, his second stint in charge of a PSL team after his first time at Ngezi Platinum was short-lived. Luphahla is aware he will also come face-to-face with his former teammates in Warriors colours, but for now he decides to celebrate them.

“This is important for football because the call has always been to also involve many of those that also played the game,” he said.

Among the Warriors legends given responsibility, it will perhaps be Mwaruwari who has so much to prove at Highlanders.

Mapeza at Scottland has little to prove as a coach but has taken over a position that comes with many expectations.

Nengomasha and Ndlovu will for now enjoy the back seats, without much spotlight given their roles as team managers.

Luphahla on the other hand has to fit into the big shoes left by Mapeza at FC Platinum.

His charges are still fresh from the Zambia pre-season tour where they managed to play two teams from the lower leagues and two from the elite league, including Zanaco.

“We had good and bad results, but the objectives of those matches were fulfilled,” he said.

“Remember, we had 33 players and you want to make sure that all of them get game time. So your performance in terms of end result, is diluted.

“But I thought we were at par with most of the teams we played against. We were not looking much into the results.”

Luphahla’s Simba Bhora last year were such a force, and they only failed to keep up in the title race towards the end of the season.

On paper, they were widely regarded as one of the strongest teams in the league, even though they had to re-build after losing 13 players to Scottland at the start of 2025.

Asked how his new FC Platinum project compared with Simba Bhora class of 2025, Luphahla said: “On paper it’s different (Simba looked stronger). But we have players at FC Platinum with the same abilities.

“We went for potential . . . And with what we are seeing, these are players capable of giving us results.”

The former Warriors striker is taking full responsibility.

“Look, those (players) that stayed here, I gave the recommendation I wanted them, and those that came on board, I also brought them in.

“So, I know exactly what each one of them brings, what they can do, and what they can’t do.” FC Platinum won four consecutive league titles — from the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020/21 seasons — with Mapeza winning three of them.

The former champions have played three seasons now without winning the title, and it could be four, unless Luphahla completes mission impossible in 2026.

“Obviously this will be one of the most difficult seasons in the PSL. The changes made by the teams make it difficult. It could be more difficult than last year.

“But as FC Platinum, we will be focused on our objectives and try to get it right,” said Luphahla.