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Norman Mapeza

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
NORMAN Mapeza is bracing for a fourth straight home tie against a member of the Premier Soccer League Big Three when FC Platinum host serial champions Dynamos at Mandava in a Castle Lager Premiership showdown on Sunday.The arrival of the Glamour Boys will complete an extraordinary pattern of fixtures for Mapeza and his men at home where they would have faced Highlanders (league), CAPS United (ZNA Charity Shield) and CAPS United (Chibuku Super Cup) in consecutive home matches.

Mapeza lost to Bosso but bounced back in spectacular fashion to thrash the Green Machine 6-0, in the Charity Cup final, while they completed a double by squeezing a 1-0 win over Makepekepe in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals.

FC Platinum beat Dynamos for the first time last year when they registered a 2-0 win at Mandava.

But Mapeza knows that this is the real test.

“Of course, these are some of the high-profile games that we have played but as for me I believe there are no easy games in football,” said Mapeza.

“All matches need thorough preparation and if you don’t do that chances are high that you may fail.  It may also happen that sometimes you prepare well but still lose, in that case you also have to accept it and try to improve next time.

“But in such big games such as this one against Dynamos everyone in the team knows what is expected of them. We just have to take everything seriously. We just started our training programme today (yesterday) and I cannot say much on the game.”

FC Platinum lie a distant sixth with 31 points on the log table, 11 behind Dynamos, but are still hopeful of turning things around with eight games remaining.

The Glamour Boys, with 42 points, are enjoying a three-point cushion at the top and will be hoping to maintain the gap to fend off rivals Highlanders in the title race.

DeMbare skipper Murape Murape said they were looking forward to the trip to Zvishavane.

Dynamos beat FC Platinum 1-0 in the first leg courtesy of a penalty converted by Ocean Mushure after referee Ruzive Ruzive adjudged that Simba Sithole had been  fouled inside the box. Murape said the trip to Zvishavane had echoes of their 2011 visit when they performed a smash-and-grab act and winning 1-0 to tilt the title race in their favour with just one round of matches remaining.

“Of course, FC Platinum had thought that they would challenge Dynamos’ dominance in the domestic league when they came on board in 2011 but so far they have failed.

“They had their best chance to win the championship in their first year but we crushed their hopes when we beat them at their own backyard to swing the odds in our favour.

“That game changed everything and now it will take them something like 10 years to reach those levels again. So we know they still hold the grudges and they would do everything to wreck our campaign.

“We need to be thoroughly prepared since we face them at a time their spirits are high up especially with that 6-0 win over our younger brothers CAPS United recently.

“But it’s good that we find them in such good form because we need the competition so that at the end of the day we are crowned worthy champions,” said Murape.

DeMbare last tasted defeat in the league marathon on June 15 when they fell 1-0 to Hwange at the Colliery.

But a period of unrest in their camp also saw them losing to Black Rhinos in the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup last month.

Mapeza’s Post-Match Analysis Against Highlanders And CAPS

After the 0-1 loss to Bosso

“The defeat did not shake me, we played well but failed to convert our chances while Highlanders buried theirs. In future we need to prepare well and hard for such big games.

“It happens in football. I am proud of the boys but it was not just our day and we still have more games to play and we will take each game as it comes. I’m still coming up with a team and I need time and I am not under pressure.”

After the 6-0 win over CAPS

“I am happy to lift my first silverware with FC Platinum. My boys did well but we must concede that the sending off of the CAPS United players took away the competitive edge from the game.

“The victory was a big morale-booster and I can say we are looking forward to the next challenge. We will continue working hard and leave everything in the hands of God. He knows our destiny.”

After the 1-0 win over CAPS

“History does not usually repeat itself, so today we were fortunate to come out tops once again. It’s still too early to talk about the final. The guys did well and I think they are gaining confidence with each and every game.

“CAPS United definitely did their homework and they gave us a good run. But I want to acknowledge that our players also did their best to win the match.”

Fixtures

Saturday: Chicken Inn v Bantu Rovers (Hartsfield), FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava), Harare City v Highlanders (Rufaro), Chiredzi v Shabanie Mine (Chishamiso).

Sunday: CAPS United v How Mine (Rufaro), Buffaloes v Triangle United (Sakubva), Hwange v Chapungu (Colliery), ZPC Kariba v Black Rhinos (TBA).