The Sunday Mail
Sports Editor
CHAMPIONSHIP-winning coach Norman Mapeza believes FC Platinum will face the toughest test of their title defence this season, noting that the rebirth of giants Dynamos and Highlanders has breathed life into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League marathon.
The Zvishavane side will be angling for a fourth straight league title as the Premiership resumes after giving way to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament, which ends in Cameroon tonight.
Mapeza is also back to club duties having travelled to Cameroon with the senior national team, albeit on a disappointing sojourn, as his Warriors became the first team to be eliminated from the competition.
The former Zimbabwe captain has, however, been closely following developments at rival clubs and reckons that business conducted by teams such as Dynamos, Highlanders and Bulawayo Chiefs could lead to a closely fought title race.
DeMbare and Bosso have been rejuvinated by the mega bucks pumped into their coffers by Sakunda Holdings, which have enabled them to raid the transfer market in search of talent to bolster their squads.
Sakunda also earlier held strategic planning workshops for the two giants to help them become professional, as they have been forced to live in the shadows of FC Platinum and other top-flight sides.
Dynamos have not tasted league title success since 2014 when Kalisto Pasuwa delivered the championship. Bosso have had an even lengthier drought that stretches to 2006 when Methembe Ndlovu won the title.
Mapeza’s concerns also stem from the fact that his team have undergone a remake that has left the lanky coach with virtually a new squad.
They have parted ways with many of the veterans of the last three championship titles, with only goalkeeper Petros Mhari and defenders Gift Bello and Lawrence Mhlanga the most notable of the experienced lot at his disposal. “It’s not going to be easy, it is like starting all over again. We just have to work on the players we have at the moment and look to strengthen the squad,” Mapeza said.
“I hope we will find some replacements, as you are aware that the registration will run up to the end of March.”
He is, however, happy with how young players elevated to the senior side acquitted themselves in training.
“Those young boys have been doing well of late but they need time. They need to have a lot of game time as well to really understand how the league operates, but so far so good. I can’t complain …
“When I arrived in 2014, it took us nearly three years to win the league, and in this particular time, with most clubs beefing up their squads, it is going to be an exciting league.”
Mapeza said FC Platinum needed to beef up its squad as most of players who won the Chibuku Super Cup were no longer with the club.
“We have Raphael Muduviwa, he got injured last year and just got operated, so he is going to be out, so we have to look around …
“For us, we will try by all means to defend our title, although it is not going to be easy.”
Ndiraya, who now cuts a happy figure after getting resources to look for more players, also predicted an exciting and yet tough resumption of the league.
“It was a busy transfer period for us. We are looking forward to closing it with signing two goalkeepers who will give Taimon Mvula good competition.
“We started again in terms of bringing some better and improved quality, but we already had the spine of the team, and what was needed was to create competition in certain departments,’’ he said.
The ex-Dynamos midfielder was not impressed by his strike force when the season began. “Clearly our offensive department performed below average in the 16 competitive games that we have played so far.
“We are physically and psychologically preparing our players for a long and difficult season ahead.”
He also welcomed the break afforded by AFCON, which allowed the Harare giants a chance to recharge their batteries.
“The AFCON tournament break came at the right time. We are grateful to our partners Sakunda Holdings for availing signing-on fees for the team, and it is part of those resources we used to retain all the players we had and of course to sign new players.”
