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Norman Mapeza

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
IN the week that log leaders FC Platinum stand on the threshold of writing their own piece of history, a number of sub-plots will be at play when Norman Mapeza’s men face Chapungu in a Super Sunday showdown at Ascot. Mapeza is chasing his second league championship medal. In 2008, Monomotapa beat Dynamos to the title with Mapeza’s men sealing their finest hour with a 0-0 draw against Lengthens at Dzivarasekwa while Dynamos edged Kiglon 3-2 at Rufaro.

But when Mapeza takes his miners to Ascot on Sunday, he will have to pit his wits against two men he has previously worked with at Monomotapa and FC Platinum — Chapungu technical director Rodwell Dhlakama and the airmen’s coach Tendai Chikuni. Dhlakama was Mapeza’s assistant at Monoz in 2008 while Chikuni also worked as his assistant at FC Platinum.

Both Dhlakama and Chikuni, while revealing their admiration for Mapeza’s work ethic and professionalism, insisted yesterday that Chapungu would not make life easier for FC Platinum. Dhlakama, the most successful junior national teams’ coach in the country, said their showdown with FC Platinum was also not about individuals but the clubs they work for.

He guided the Young Warriors to the CAF Under-17 Championships in Algeria, won COSAFA Cup titles with the national Under-17 and Under-20 sides, win gold at the ANOCA Zone Six Games in Lesotho with the Under-17s and gold with the Zimbabwe Schools at the Coca-Cola tri-nations tournament in Zambia. Dhlakama has also struck a strong technical partnership with Chikuni after having arrived at Chapungu when the airmen were struggling and had managed just one point in their first seven matches.

Now Chapungu, who have 43 points, lost 0-1 away to Dynamos, in their last six outings. But as he switched focus to their final assignment of the season against FC Platinum game, Dhlakama insisted that team work had been the hallmark of Chapungu’s steady progress. “Football is always about teamwork . . . there are so many determinants of results — psychological factors, tactical factors among others and the team which will want it more will get the desired result, winning it fairly,’’ he said.

“Yes, it is going to be somewhat emotional given that we shared moments of joy together especially in winning the championship with Monoz. But so much water has gone under the bridge since we shared the same bench with Norman and obviously he learnt from me as much as I learnt a lot from him so, like I said, it will be about the clubs we work for now more than us as individuals.’’

Chikuni said although he had noted with concern some social media reports suggesting it would be FC Platinum who will be hungrier for success, the former Motor Action assistant gaffer maintained the airmen were a professional outfit.

“This is a game that we will approach like any other and that means we will take our professional mentality into this match. From a Chapungu perspective we are not even looking at what impact the result will have on FC Platinum because we have our own targets and our own ambitions.

“Yes, I may have worked with Norman at FC Platinum, but it must be remembered that I have also worked with different coaches in my journey. “Just last Sunday we were in Bulawayo to play Chicken Inn who are being coached by mentor Rahman Gumbo and we gave them a tough time.

“I have noticed some social media posts trying to insinuate that since I worked for FC Platinum before maybe I will do them some favours but I am professional and I have a job to look after at Chapungu. We are looking at the top-eight finish this season and I want to give credit to the executive, the technical team and the players. Of course, it is not going to be easy, FC Platinum have been doing well both at home and away and I respect Norman. This will be a different game to the Cup game we played against them and we are bracing for a tough afternoon,’’ Chikuni said.

The coach said he was hopeful that referees would also not spoil the day at Ascot. “I don’t know who will be appointed to handle the game and so I cannot comment much on referees but my hope is that whichever officials will be there will be professional and ensure there is a good game.

“As I said, we are going to be very professional in our approach and I would like to believe that we have a very exciting match on the cards. Of course, we do have some injury challenges to deal with but we are trying to manage with what we have and we also have some youngsters who have also come in and they have done very well,’’ said Chikuni.