NORMAN Mapeza – bruised and battered after his side FC Platinum slumped to a shock defeat to Triangle Wednesday – will be seeking redemption against Harare giants Caps United when the two sides clash in a potentially explosive final of the ZNA Charity Shield at Mandava Stadium this afternoon.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Mapeza’s men are coming from a depressing 2-0 Premier Soccer League defeat to Triangle and will be hoping to lay their hands on the ZNA Charity Shield when they meet a troubled Caps United in their own backyard.
Midfielder Praise Tonha and substitute Tatenda Tsuro got the goals that counted for Biggie Zuze’s Triangle to collect maximum points to remain in 11th position with 27 points from 22 matches while FC Platinum were left in sixth place with 31 points from the same number of matches.
The former Monomotapa and Warriors coach was left dejected with that defeat. “It’s now two consecutive games losing, so we need to work very hard. We only showed up in the last 15 minutes of the match,” fumed Mapeza after the match.
But the ZNA Charity Shield has presented FC Platinum with a good opportunity to regroup in front of their home fans, and make amends before the Castle Lager Premiership programme resumes next week.
More importantly, it provides Mapeza a window of opportunity to show the home fans he is ready for the challenge to coach one of the biggest premiership side in the country after taking over from Lloyd Mutasa.
Mapeza began his reign at the Zvishavane-based side with a 3-0 win over Bantu Rovers at Mandava Stadium to advance to the second round of the Chibuku Super Cup. He then saw off the challenge of a vastly improved Black Rhinos- beating them 1-0 in the league before being stopped by Bulawayo giants Highlanders by the same scoreline at Mandava Stadium.
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However, this is a cup competition and as FC Platinum make a return to Mandava they hope to hold their own against Caps United. FC Platinum defender Quadr Amini appears to reserve his best in cup competitions. He opened the scoring when he converted a penalty in their defeat of Bantu Rovers in the Chibuku Super Cup.
In their league encounter, against Caps United in April this season when Lloyd Mutasa was still at the helm, Amini was one of the destroyer in chief scoring the insurance goal direct from a cornerkick after Donald Ngoma had thrust them ahead.
Dominic Chungwa then pulled one back four minutes from full time, but the damage had already been done. The victory was mad sweet by the fact that it was FC Platinum’s first defeat of the Green Machine since gaining promotion in 2011.
And it now remains to be seen whether the Zvishavane based side would be able to repeat the same feat under Mapeza.
FC Platinum team manager Joseph Mususa maintains they will come with all guns blazing today. “It will be difficult to face Caps United especially considering that we defeated them for the first time in the league early this year. But that victory gave us confidence that we can beat them again.”
The tournament usually features teams from the defence forces but this year the organisers have decided to make it bigger by roping in the top Premiership sides, Dynamos, Highlanders, Caps United and FC Platinum.
Makepekepe advanced to the final after emerging 1-0 winners over Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium in the semi-finals while FC Platinum were 3-2 victors over Highlanders at Barbourfields in May.
The winning team will walk away with the trophy. The army charities matches are part of the fund-raising activities for the army’s various charities.
