Norman Mapeza yearns for cup glory

IN form FC Platinum will take on Harare City in the 2014 Chibuku Cup final at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on Sunday, with the platinum miners’ gaffer Norman Mapeza setting his sights on laying hands on the silverware. The tournament, in which all 16 Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs featured, is the biggest knockout tournament in the top flight this year.

Since his arrival at the Zvishavane-based club in August, Mapeza refined FC Platinum and made them a winning machine. The club has been enjoying a rich vein of form under Mapeza in their last five league games, winning four and drawing one. But with league glory now out of reach, FC Platinum’s only chance of a shot at a major piece of silverware lies in the cup tournaments.

“I am excited,” said Mapeza. The boys are training hard and everybody is looking forward to Sunday’s game. It’s not going to be easy but I am confident, we will give it our all and win it. The hardest part (to qualify for the cup final) has been done. But my feeling as a coach is that cup finals should be played at neutral venues because many people say we are getting favours but its entirely up to the sponsors and PSL management.”

In contrast, Harare City, who are on position 12 on the league’s log standings and one of the teams that could be relegated depending on the outcome of the last league matches still to be played, have been struggling of late. But a cup final victory for Harare City will boost their quest for survival in the Premiership and will be the best way to end a poor season.

Harare City coach, Masimba Dinyero returns to Mandava where he was an assistant coach early this year.  He however left the Zvishavane side unceremoniously after being dismissed by the then head coach Lloyd Mutasa.  Their two league meetings this season saw FC Platinum taking home and away victories over Harare City and the Zvishavane side will be hoping to maintain the same dominance in Sunday’s crucial contest.

To get to the Chibuku Super Cup final, FC Platinum beat army side Black Rhinos 1-0 in the semi-final while Harare City beat Highlanders 3-0 to book a berth in the Chibuku Super Cup final. Winners will pocket $75 000, while the losing finalist will take home  $50 000.

FC Platinum will miss their Zambian international defender Aaron Katebe who has been called- up for national duty for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Zambia faces Mozambique and Cape Verde on November 15 and 19 respectively in their 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

The Sunshine City skipper, David Kutyauripo, returns to lead the club in the cup final after missing the club’s last two games against ZPC Kariba and Caps United as he served a suspension for a red card picked in a league match. The Chibuku Super Cup was re-launched this year as sponsors Delta Beverages, who also bankroll the league title through its Castle Lager brand poured in US$500 000.

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