The Sunday Mail
Fatima Bulla and Langton Nyakwenda
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza is not under any illusions as he seeks to transform his expensively assembled side into genuine title contenders. The 42-year-old gaffer says the miners, who have had little joy despite some heavy investment, have every reason to fire him if he fails to produce results.
“Yes we are rebuilding but I also know that in this job you will be fired if you don’t produce results,” said Mapeza.
“There is no club in the Premier League or the world over that does not require results. Dynamos also want results, Caps United also want results. Every club that is playing wants results and if there are no results of course you have to be fired.
“It is the nature of the job. If you do not get results you have to be fired. Football is about results all over the world. Do you think if Louis Van Gaal continues losing he will keep his job at Manchester United?
“Any coach, if he does not bring results, will be fired. There is no job security if you do not produce results. And there is nothing special about me, if they (FC Platinum) do not see results, they have to fire me.”
While a sense of renewed hope is evident in the way FC Platinum have conducted business ever since Mapeza took over from Lloyd Mutasa, the former Galatasary midfielder, who has barred his players from speaking to the media as well as frequenting nightclubs, among other things, insists it’s too early to assess the impact he has had at Mandava.
“I cannot talk about that now, only until the season comes to an end will we be able to assess the progress that has been made,” he said.
However, Dynamos coach Kallisto Pasuwa reckons Mapeza’s hand is already evident in the way FC Platinum are doing business.
Speaking after last weekend’s goalless draw Pasuwa said: “Norman is a good coach and his team is very compact.”
Mapeza, widely regarded as one of the finest young coaches in the country, has always been known for his trust in young players.
There are signs that he is sticking to the script as he is giving starlets such as Tatenda Dzumbunu (20), Walter Musona (19), Wisdom Mutasa (19) and Obrey “Chola” Chirwa (21) starting berths.
“The young guys are doing well and I am happy to give them a chance. Dzumbunu is young but he has a lot to offer to the team. Obrey (Chirwa) is doing well. When I came here these were the players who were signed and given to us by the club as good players so we have to get the best out of them,” Mapeza said.
Dzumbunu’s elevation has seen skipper Thabani Kamusoko being relegated to the bench while Mutasa, son to former coach Mutasa, is playing with confidence and with the burden of always being labelled as the gaffer’s son off his shoulders.
However, it is Chirwa who appears to be enjoying Mapeza’s approach the most.
The Zambian played cameo roles under Tenant Chilumba last season, did not blossom much under Mutasa, but is now slowly fulfilling the potential he showed almost two years ago when he was spotted by Jairos Tapera playing for the Zambian Under-20 squad.
Blessed with pace, a lower centre of gravity which allows him to dribble and change direction with ease, Chirwa can be a handful to defenders.
The forceful forward has scored three goals and provided four assists since Mapeza took over and the affable gaffer should be praying the Zambian maintains this rich vein of form as FC Platinum chase a decent finish in the title race.
The platinum miners are also in the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup and would want to add the trophy to the ZNA Charity Shield they won after hammering Caps United 6-0 three weeks ago.
“The young man (Chirwa) is doing well and it is good that he is holding his own even in big games. Last week he was just unfortunate not to get a goal against Dynamos, but the effort was evident.
“We are trying to build a team here and he is a vital part of that exercise. We have a lot of youngsters who have the capacity to take the team further and I feel they deserve a chance,” said Mapeza.
Chirwa was ruthless in front of goal during the ZNA Charity Shield final, scoring his first hat-trick since joining the miners last season before setting up the other goals.
He lasted only 38 minutes in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final against the same opponents, a fortnight ago, but he had already inflicted the damage.
His solo run on the left and a clever cross that left Caps United defender George Nyirenda bamboozled with the Malawian turning the ball into his own nets.
Against Dynamos last weekend, Chirwa was unplayable and was unlucky not to earn his side a penalty that could have decided the epic encounter that eventually ended goalless.
Renowned youth soccer coach Tapera, the man who discovered the Zambian, is impressed with the manner in which Chirwa has blossomed.
“He was still a young boy when I discovered him at the end of 2012, but you could see he was one for the future.
“His pace, power and ability to shoot on the turn was a marvel to watch and that is why I quickly recommended him to FC Platinum who were also about to hire Zambian coach Tenant Chilumba at the beginning of 2013.
“He has developed; he now has the balance and is not easily dispossessed by defenders. He is an asset and I know with Mapeza he is in good hands,” said Tapera, who is now head coach at FC Platinum’s across town rivals Shabanie Mine.
