FC Platinum’s exploits charm Mapeza
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza was charmed by his team’s performance after his side beat giants Highlanders in their backyard to maintain their good start in this year’s Premiership campaign.
The platinum miners were yesterday still basking in their 2-1 league win at Barbourfields.
Together with champions Chicken Inn, they are the only teams that have won both games in the opening matches of the season after Walter Musona and Obrey Chirwa scored for Mapeza’s men.
“The most important thing for us is to do well in all our games and try as much as we can to get positive results at every turn. Of course there are no easy matches but we always play our normal game,” said Mapeza.
“Every season we always want to make sure that we are among the top teams. That is our aim so that we take part in most of those competitions that feature the top four.”
The platinum miners are looking to build on the positive run in last year’s campaign where they finished on a high tempo following a slow start.
Joey Antipas’ Chicken Inn sit at the top of the table courtesy of a superior goal difference.
The Gamecocks boast of a clean sheet as they followed up their 3-0 thumping of Dynamos in the first match with a 1-0 win against newboys Border Strikers.
“It’s always good to get maximum points because we know games will get tougher and so the boys did very well to come out with that win,” said Antipas.
“We dominated the match from the start to the end but Border Strikers frustrated us a lot.
“They put almost the whole team behind the ball and they succeeded in closing down all spaces. Their tactics worked but the most important thing is we still managed to get that win.”
Harare giants CAPS United could also have walked away with maximum points at Ngezi Platinum but their hopes were extinguished when they conceded a late equaliser through an own goal by defender Steven Makatuka.
Expectations were high among the Makepekepe faithful, who made the majority of the supporters in Ngezi.
Ngezi Platinum skipper Liberty Chakoroma praised his men.
“We played very well and I think we fought very hard to recover. We didn’t want to lose our first match at home and I am happy with the support we received from our fans.
“It made things easy for us because this was a game which we nearly lost but they continued to rally behind us even when we were down with a few minutes remaining.
“Our team is still trying to adjust from Division One to Premiership football and the good thing about us is that we fight for one another and we play as a team,” said Chakoroma.
They have four points to their credit, the same as CAPS United, How Mine and Triangle.
Mutare City, Hwange and Border Strikers are the only teams that are yet to take off after losing both matches.
Giants Dynamos are still to find the back of the nets following the goalless draw with Triangle.
The Glamour Boys, who are usually slow starters, sit fourth from the bottom with one point in the bag.