The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
DESPITE their four-year dominance in the local Premiership, FC Platinum are still treading cautiously, and their head coach Norman Mapeza is keeping an eye on potential party spoilers.
With four consecutive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League titles in their trophy cabinet, Pure Platinum Play will make history if they win the 2023 championship.
They will become the first-ever team to win the top-flight for five straight seasons, surpassing Dynamos and Highlanders, who have also achieved four in a row.
This makes this year’s pre-season all the more important for Mapeza’s side.
However, the reigning Coach of the Year is, as usual, keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
He claims he is not thinking about making history, at least for now.
Instead, Mapeza has noted how some of his rivals such as Manica Diamonds have been beefing up their squads.
The Gem Boys have been among the busiest teams on the market, signing a number of top players, including 2019 Soccer Star of the Year runner-up Ralph Kawondera and Trevor Mavhunga from Dynamos, Brett Amidu from Chicken Inn, as well as veteran striker Donald Ngoma from Triangle.
Farai Banda (Black Rhinos), Gerald Bhero (Triangle) and Panashe Mutasa (Tenax) are also now at the Jairos Tapera-coached side.
Mapeza is also wary of Dynamos, who have signed over 10 players since the arrival of new coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa.
Crowd puller Denver Mukamba is back at DeMbare, who have also acquired the Moyo twins — Kelvin and Elvis — Soccer Star of the Year finalist Eli Ilunga, Arthur “Diego” Musiiwa, Tanaka “Kante” Shandirwa and Donald Mudadi. “Dynamos are looking very strong because of the new acquisitions they have got,” Mapeza told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“Then, if you look at Manica Diamonds, it is the same. “They have got some quality players that they brought in for this season.”
But, unlike his rivals, Mapeza has gone for consistency. As they say, you don’t fix it when it’s not broken.
He has retained the bulk of the squad that won the league championship last year, with only a few players like Blessing “Bisto” Moyo, William Stima and Evidence Tendayi allowed to go. FC Platinum have signed Jarrison Selemani from Cranborne and Misheck Ngwenya from Triangle, while Perfect Chikwende is back from Bulawayo Chiefs.
“We cannot talk of a fifth championship at the moment. If you look at it, most clubs have been beefing up their squads.
“But if you look at some other clubs like us, Chicken Inn and Highlanders, there hasn’t been so much activity in terms of bringing in new players.
“I just thought we didn’t need to bring in a lot of new players to the team because we already have some youngsters whom I think might give us something at the end of the day.
“It’s going to be a long season, and what is very important is for us is to have a good balance in the squad, whether it’s in our defence, midfield or strike force,” added Mapeza.
He also feels CAPS United, who are coached by his childhood friend Lloyd Chitembwe, might upset the apple cart in 2023 despite fighting relegation last season.
“I also think CAPS United will be in the mix,” says Mapeza.
“Look at the way they have been bringing in some quality players. You can’t rule them out.
“It’s not going to be an easy season, so for us, it’s much to do with having a good start in the season and then see how it progresses.”
Typical of Chitembwe, CAPS United have been chasing mostly experienced players this pre-season.
Utility players Godknows Murwira and Kelvin Madzongwe, central defender Adrian Silla, defender Innocent Zambezi and goalkeeper Ashley Rayners are now with Makepekepe. It is a cast that has caught Mapeza’s attention, but the revered gaffer also thinks his own signings can do the trick.
“Perfect (Chikwende) is back, and he is someone I thought would help the youngsters with his experience.
“Selemani did very well with Cranborne Bullets last season, and he is someone who can give us a lot of options upfront.
“Ngwenya is a left-footed player who can play either as centre-back or as a left-back.
“Those are the three players who are here at the moment, although we have a few guys who are training with us at the moment.
“We are still monitoring them and in two or three weeks, I would have made a decision,” said Mapeza.
Nigel Makumbe, who was at FC Platinum on loan from Ngezi Platinum Stars, is back in Mhondoro, while Nigerian striker Abubakar Onafide has been sent on loan to newly promoted side Simba Bhora.
“Of course, Stima and Moyo left because their contracts had expired.
“They decided to move on to some other clubs. If someone finds a new home, it’s football and there is no way we will stand in their way. “I wish them well at their new clubs.
“But so far, so good, our pre-season has been well. We had two weeks in Bulawayo for a bonding session and we are now back in Zvishavane as we continue preparing.”
■ Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
