The Sunday Mail
“WE live a life of a fisherman, if you don’t catch today that doesn’t mean you give up. This job is all about perseverance,” mused Norman Mapeza on the eve of his 100th league game in charge of FC Platinum in October last year.
Mapeza capped that century with a sweet 2-0 victory over cross-town rivals Shabanie Mine at Mandava on October 18 and went on to capture the 2017 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.
It was FC Platinum’s first ever league title and Mapeza’s second since 2008 when he did it with the now defunct Monomotapa.
Like a persevering fisherman, the 46-year-old gaffer has his nets back in the water and is about to catch something big.
In his 136th league match in charge, and again in enemy territory against Shabanie Mine at Maglas this afternoon, Mapeza is on the cusp of claiming back-to-back league titles.
FC Platinum have 71 points, nine more than second-placed Ngezi Platinum Stars going into the last three games of the 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, so just a point will do the trick for Mapeza’s charges.
Pure Platinum Play could be crowned 2018 champions even if they lose this Zvishavane Derby, provided Ngezi Platinum fail to beat Bulawayo Chiefs at the Baobab in Mhondoro today.
All seems set for a platinum party in Zvishavane this evening.
“The problem I have is I want to win everything, that’s my problem. Even if we are to play an amateur team still I demand the same.
“Everything I do in football I take it very seriously, so we approach this game with the same mentality and same attitude. Everybody knows where we are at the moment so there’s no need to panic,” said Mapeza.
Shabanie Mine coach Alexio Sigion has threatened to spoil FC Platinum’s party for the sake of his Maglas community but Mapeza thinks there’s no party to talk about.
“I don’t want to talk about any team spoiling our party, we cannot talk of any party now, so Shabanie Mine cannot spoil any party because this is not over yet. We can only talk of a party when the season is over, for now it’s still game over,” Mapeza said.
This is the 12th edition of the Zvishavane Derby and history favours FC Platinum who have lost only once to their neighbours since 2012 when Pure Platinum Play made their Premiership bow.
FC Platinum have six wins while the other four contests have ended in stalemates.
Shabanie Mine have not beaten FC Platinum since April 21, 2013 when the Chinda Boys edged their rivals 1-0 at Maglas.
It will be difficult for an already-relegated Shabanie Mine who face an FC Platinum side that has lost four times this season to rain on Mapeza’s parade.
Only Bulawayo Chiefs, Harare City, Triangle and ZPC Kariba have managed to beat Mapeza’s side this season.
FC Platinum have the meanest defence in the league, having conceded 14 times in 31 matches; while their strike force is the sharpest, plundering 50 goals so far.
As for Shabanie Mine, they can only look forward to Division One football next season meaning this is the last Zvishavane Derby for a while.
Shabanie Mine are bottom with 19 points and have not won a league game in 17 fixtures; their last victory being the 2-1 triumph over Bulawayo Chiefs at Maglas on May 27.
