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Taurai Mangwiro

Paul Mundandi in ZVISHAVANE and Eddie Chikamhi in HARARE
HARARE City coach Taurai Mangwiro insists that he is not intimidated by FC Platinum’s storming start to their Castle Lager Premiership campaign where Norman Mapeza’s men have won all their four matches.

The Sunshine Boys plunge into Mandava today for a showdown against the hosts, who currently lead the championship race after capturing all the 12 points on offer.

“Football is not about history. History is for the archives and on Saturday (today) we are going to Zvishavane motivated by CAPS United.

“They beat Dynamos last week after seven years of a barren spell and so everything is possible for us as well. It is not going to be easy but I believe it will be done. We want to improve our away record starting from Saturday. “I get along fairly well with Norman (Mapeza), he is my colleague but that friendship is going to be put aside for 90 minutes. We are going to get a positive result from Mandava and after 90 minutes we will shake hands.”

Mapeza says he knows that all the teams want to stop his men.

“I know a number of clubs are planning to beat us but I know what to do but I am not going to talk about it,” said Mapeza.

“We have to retain our feet on the ground and be cautious.

“It is going to be guns blazing from all angles. To be leaders on the log is an advantage and could also be a disadvantage but we know what to do in this situation.

“We are playing a good side that is free-scoring. The most important thing is not to lose our focus. It will be a different game and I know they will be fired-up after winning 4-1 last week.

“We will remain calm and very cautious. It a long marathon but we need to collect as many points as we can along the way and remain with our feet on the ground.”

Mapeza’s strikers have not been clinical upfront.

“It’s good to create chances, it is positive. Let’s create the chances then we work on how to finish them than not to create the chances,” said Mapeza.

“We always appreciate the fans’ support. I urge them to remain united and it is too early for everybody to get excited because it’s going to be a long marathon.”

FC Platinum have a battery of exciting forwards, who include Walter Musona, Obrey Chirwa, Tarisai Rukanda and Hilary Bakacheza.

Premiership newboys Border Strikers appear to be finding it tough in the league, battling turmoil in their camp with players demanding to be paid their dues while they have been struggling for results on the pitch.

They are struggling to pay players their signing-on fees and there has been a prolonged industrial action, which resulted in many of the senior players boycotting the last assignment against Mutare City, which they lost 1-0.

Their coach Saul Chaminuka said his men will do their best when they face CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.

“This is a game that every player will look forward to. I challenge these guys to look at it from the perspective that it’s a chance for exposure and to show that they are good players,” said Chaminuka.

A club official at the Beitbridge side admitted they were operating under a difficult environment and promised that the players’ plight will be addressed.

“Look, our team is not entirely bad. We have lost some matches that we feel we could have won. This is because we are always away even when playing home games.

“So far we have travelled more than 2 800km combined distance within a matter of four weeks to play our matches,” said Chaminuka.

Fixtures

Today: Chicken Inn v Bulawayo City (Luveve); Tsholotsho v Ngezi Platinum (White City); FC Platinum v Harare City (Mandava)

Tomorrow: Mutare City Rovers v How Mine (Sakubva); CAPS United v Border Strikers (National Sports Stadium); Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery); Triangle v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo); Highlanders v Chapungu (Barbourfields)