DYNAMOS coach Genesis Mangombe is confident his team will prevail over FC Platinum, as the two sides fancy their chances of grabbing the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.
The two sides are tied on 50 points and seven behind log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars, so whoever drops points this afternoon may well kiss goodbye to the title race.
Their clash this afternoon at Mandava Stadium headlines match day 31 of the 2023 PSL season.
A win is important for both teams, but they also need Ngezi to drop points for them to increase their chances.
Mangombe admits that FC Platinum will be motivated to take revenge after DeMbare booted them out of the Chibuku Super Cup.
“We recently eliminated them from the Chibuku Super Cup, and this means they are going to want it more than us. It can be difficult for them. They want it more because they won't want to suffer two defeats from us,” he said yesterday.
“But for me, it’s not going to be tougher than the few matches we played so far. We played against Black Rhinos wanting it more than them, but we failed to convert the chances we got.
“With our type of play, we create so many chances, and the issue has been on converting them. I'm sure we will create many chances,” he said.
- FC Platinum reach Chibuku Cup last eight
- Inside sport: The right way to do it
- FC Platinum 8 points clear as Chicken Inn falters again
- FC Platinum move six points clear
Keep Reading
Mangombe is relieved as they welcome Frank Makarati who returns from suspension, while Donald Dzvinyai recovered from injury.
Only Kevin Moyo remains on the treatment bed, while his twin brother Elvis has been certified fit to face his former side.
The former Yadah coach wants his side to improve their conversion rate and that is what he has been working on this week.
“To be honest, this is a match we must have to win at al costs. I'm pleased that we have our defenders back except for Kevin (Moyo).
“We have the same number of points, so we obviously want to rise and keep up with our title aspirations.
“Right now, we have worked on our conversion rate.”
“Yesterday (Tuesday), we worked on finishing and I hope to get the results at Mandava Stadium,” he added.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza has not given up hope of wrestling the title out of Ngezi Platinum Stars’ grasp with four rounds of matches left before the curtain comes down.
“In football you never give up, we are still hoping something will happen. I met the Highlanders coach Baltemer Brito and he was talking about the possibility of finishing second, so we are pushing for that. In football you never know, we will just take each game as it comes,” Mapeza said after watching his team collect all three points on offer in the Saturday game against Chicken Inn.
Title favourites, Ngezi Platinum Stars will edge closer to their first topflight title if they win against tricky Sheasham at the Baobab Stadium this afternoon.
Fixtures
Today: Chicken Inn v Green Fuel (Luveve), Herentals v Craneborne Bullets (NSS), FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava), Manica Diamonds v Simba Bhora (Gibbo), Black Rhinos v Yadah (Bata), ZPC Kariba v Hwange (Nyamhunga), Ngezi Platinum v Sheasham (Baobab)
Tomorrow: Caps United v Bulawayo Chiefs (NSS), Triangle v Highlanders (Gibbo)
