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Taurai Mangwiro

Paul Mundandi, Zvishavane Correspondent
HARARE City coach, Taurai Mangwiro, is bullish ahead of their arrival at Mandava Stadium for a clash with FC Platinum today.

The Sunshine City boys have been blowing hot and cold so far this season. They have lost to Caps United and Triangle on the road but have promised to turn the tables at Mandava.

“Football is not about history. History is for the archives and on Saturday (today) we are going to Zvishavane motivated by Caps United.

They beat Dynamos last week after seven years of barren spell so everything is possible for us as well. It’is not going to be easy but I believe it will be done,” said Mangwiro.

Harare City will be missing the services of Ronald Chitiyo, James Jam, Agrippa Murimba and young Tanaka Ruzvidzo who are all injured.
Maxwell Nyamupanedengu and Martin Vengesayi will also not be part of the team as they are writing their university exams.

“We want to improve on our away record. I get along fairly well with Norman (Mapeza). He is my colleague but that friendship is going to be put aside for 90 minutes. After 90 minutes we will shake hands,” said Mangwiro.

He will, however, find it difficult to throw spanners into Mapeza’s project as the coach is riding high having won all his last four matches and is looking forward to continue with his form.

Pure Platinum Play is the only team still to lose a match in the Castle Lager Premier League, a record they would not want to lose.

“A number of clubs are planning to beat us but I know what to do when things are like this but I’m not going to talk about it.

“We have to keep our feet on the ground and to be cautious. It’s going to be guns blazing from all angles. We are playing a good side. The most important thing is not to lose our focus. It will be a different game and I know they will be fired up after winning 4-1 last week. It’s a long marathon but we need to collect as many points as we can along the way,” said Mapeza.

The health bill in Mapeza’s camp is clean except for the absence of Ishmael Wadi who lost his father on Monday in the capital.

Harare City will likely find it hard to handle the likes of Walter Musona, Obrey Chirwa, Tarisai Rukanda, Hillary Bakacheza and the hard running Marshal Mudehwe.

They have experienced Gift Bello in defence who will be partnered by Ian Nekati, the Moyo twins Elvis and Kelvin.