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Norman Mapeza

Paul Mundandi in ZVISHAVANE
NORMAN Mapeza faces a stern test in his quest to guide his FC Platinum back into pole position on the Castle Lager Premiership Soccer League championship log table with two crucial games inside four days starting with a showdown against champions Chicken Inn at Barboufields this afternoon.

Mapeza will then return to Mandava on Saturday to host third-placed CAPS United in another high profile clash.

FC Platinum could reclaim top spot if they get at least a point in Bulawayo in today’s rescheduled game.

Mapeza, however, said yesterday he would not allow his charges to be carried away by the positive prospects.

The platinum miners are coming from a morale-boosting 2-1 away win at Mutare City Rovers at the weekend while Chicken Inn are also in high spirits after dismissing log leaders Highlanders 2-0 at Barbourfields.

Mapeza said his side, early pacesetters when the season started, were targeting maximum points from their assignments but noted with concern that they had been involved in a lot of traveling in the last week.

The miners returned from Mutare on Sunday and yesterday they were on the road again to Bulawayo. They will then travel back to Mandava where they will host CAPS United this Saturday.

“We are done with the Mutare game and we are focused on Chicken Inn match. It’s a tight fixture for us,” said Mapeza.

“What can we do? We have to travel. We will go to Bulawayo, come back here (Zvishavane), then travel to Hwange. We are not mourning though.

“We are also not worried about the results for the other teams but we worry about ourselves and our results. So we will not focus on what is happening in Hwange or Bulawayo but our focus is on us and our next games.”

FC Platinum are looking to have all their players available for selection.

They are also looking to continue with their momentum after winning against Triangle and Mutare City in the last two games.

Midfielder Rodwell Chinyengetere has scored in both games and will be looking to continue with his good form.

Although they will not be at home, Mapeza called on the team’s supporters to back the players through good and bad times.

“We always appreciate their support but I was not happy last time when they booed Tarisai (Rukanda) in the game against Triangle.

“He missed one chance and they started whistling as they wanted him to be substituted. I don’t know why and I don’t understand. He missed an opportunity and they wanted him to be substituted.

“If they start to boo their own players then I don’t know where we are heading at the end of the day. Nobody wants to go into the pitch and play a bad game of football. They must not put the guys under pressure. They must appreciate the efforts from the players as much as we appreciate their support”, said Mapeza.

Mapeza will meet another former national team coach Rahman Gumbo in a game that has all the ingredients of a thriller.

The two also played together in the national team and they view each other as brothers but today for 90 minutes the brotherhood will be set aside for the three points at the stake.

After playing a goalless draw in the midweek against Hwange last week, Chicken Inn were in top form when they upstaged their fancied rivals Highlanders at Barbourfields on Sunday.

Veterans Clement Matawu and Obidiah Tarumbwa were on target.

Fixtures:

Today: Chicken Inn v FC Platinum (Barbourfields)

Saturday: Platinum v CAPS United (Mandava), Tsholotsho v Mutare City Rovers (White City), Chapungu v Chicken Inn (Ascot), Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum Stars v ZPC Kariba (Baobab),

Sunday: Hwange v Bulawayo City (Colliery), Highlanders v Triangle United (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Border Strikers (Rufaro)