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Norman Mapeza

Munyaradzi Doma in ZVISHAVANE
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza says his team needs to ride on their momentum if they are to become serious contenders for the Castle Lager Premiership championship race. The coach spoke ahead of tomorrow’s top-of-the-table clash against Chicken Inn at Mandava on a day when Highlanders coach Erol Akbay dropped a bombshell that he will leave the club at the end of the season.

The Dutchman told a news conference in Bulawayo yesterday he will not renew his contract with Bosso because of the financial challenges that have plagued his association with the country’s second biggest club.

Mapeza, in sharp contrast, does not have such problems and all he needs is consistency from his men.

“The most important thing you know is to have consistency, we have won two games in a row, but we need to keep the momentum going,” he said.

“So for us to do that we just need to get a positive result on Saturday.

“You know I said it in our first press conference at the beginning of the second half that the most important thing is to start well and I think we have done that and so the most important thing now is to keep the momentum going.

“We need to be consistent, that’s the most important thing.

“If we really want to push for the championship we need to be consistent, we need to win games at home, we need to win games away.”

He said that pressure to excel is always there, but the positive development is that they have been winning.

“Just imagine if we were losing? But when you are winning it’s always positive pressure, the boys will always stay motivated.

“Everybody has an objective for him (Chicken Inn coach Rahman Gumbo) to say that (he is going for the championship) it shows he means business, but that’s the same as us.

“We also have our objectives, we are taking this game very seriously, you know. Everybody knows Chicken Inn are coming here after winning three games in a row.

“So it’s not going to be an easy game. Everyone knows what’s at stake and I hope come Saturday, the players have to put everything into the game, they have to come up with a positive result.”

He wants a change of fortunes against the visitors.

“I know we haven’t been getting positive results against Chicken Inn since I have been here, but the funny part of it is that in Bulawayo we have been winning.

“They have got a former coach who had been here before so they will come here trying to prove a point, that’s football at the end of the day, that’s the most beautiful part of the game.”

Chicken Inn took control of the race during midweek when they thumped defending champions CAPS United 3-1 at Luveve.

Meanwhile, FC Platinum duo Gerald Takwara and Ian Nekati have paid tribute to their colleagues after winning the Player of the Month awards for the months of June and July.

Takwara was voted the best player for June while Nekati walked away with the accolade for July.

Takwara got a dining room suite while Nekati got a bedroom suite all courtesy of Teecherz Home and Office.

“I’m so happy for myself and I would like to thank my teammates for helping me do well. I just want to say to those that chose me, I’m so grateful.

“I didn’t expect to win it because many players are playing so well these days,’’ said Takwara.