AFTER playing two draws just before the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League break, Zvishavane-based FC Platinum need to raise the bar in their campaign when they entertain Buffaloes at Mandava Stadium this afternoon.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
Fresh from the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), where they played a 1-1 draw with giants TP Mazembe last Sunday in an international friendly match, coach Norman Mapeza and his boys are in an unfamiliar ninth position on the log table with 18 points with just two matches to end of the first half of the season.
Winning against Buffaloes and Chapungu could see Platinum surge upwards to a comfortable position before the start of the second half.
Mapeza said his charges had been doing well and he is hoping for a good result against the Mutare-based club. “My boys have been doing well and we are looking for a positive result on Saturday (today),” he said.
Mapeza said he was not aware if his two influential players Wisdom Mutasa and Walter Musona had left for trials in Slovakia, but said in their absence, he had able replacements.
Just before the two-week, Platinum played a 1-1 draw against Hwange at the Colliery after another 2-2 stalemate with Highlanders at Mandava.
Before that, they had cruised 3-0 past ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga and beat title contenders Triangle 3-2 at home.
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Platinum have the likes of Donald Ngoma and Thabani Kamusoko, twins Kelvin and Elvis Moyo, Obrey Chirwa, Zambian Aaron Katebe and experienced goalkeeper Petros Mhari.
Donald Ngoma is also unavailable as he is set to join Tanzania’s Young Africans on July 1 after flying out for medicals.
Buffaloes have just re-engaged coach Saul Chaminuka who left ZPC Kariba and they sit on position 11 with 15 points.
Before the break, Buffaloes beat Whawha 3-0 at Sakubva and lost by the same scoreline to Chicken Inn at Luveve. After Platinum, they finish off the first half of the season against How Mine at home.
