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Norman Mapeza

Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza says he is being undermined by certain officials at the club hence the team’s poor form. Speaking after the platinum miners’ 2-1 defeat by Whawha in Gweru on Saturday, the under-pressure coach complained that there were people at the club who were frustrating him. He did not name them.

A frustrated Mapeza made the remarks as he made his way from the pitch at Ascot Stadium.

The platinum miners, who have stood by their coach despite results eluding them, had a short meeting at the stadium after the defeat.

The indaba was between the George Mawere-led executive and their technical team.

After the meeting, Mapeza, with assistant coach, Patrick Mandizha in tow, made the stunning revelation that some people at the club were bent on destabilising his team.

“What kind of explanation do you need when you have a performance like this? It is clear that someone is sabotaging the team and is out to undermine me here at the club. You don’t need to be told what is taking place,” said Mapeza, whose other remarks couldn’t be heard as he made his way to the dressing room.

It has not been a rosy start in the Premiership for the platinum miners who have only managed four points from five games — the three points coming from a 3-0 home win over Flame Lily and a point from their 1-1 draw against Dongo Sawmill.

FC Platinum had made the trip to Gweru for their Midlands derby smarting from a 1-3 energy sapping home defeat by Chicken Inn and a midweek 1-2 loss in the capital against Harare City.

Even the FC Platinum fans seem to have lost faith in Mapeza as they were calling for his dismissal after seeing their team handing Whawha — coached by ex-FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa — their first win of the season.

Only time will tell as to how long Mapeza stays at the club but he will certainly be hoping for maximum points against tricky Tsholotsho FC in their next match.

The Zvishavane club came into the Premiership at the beginning of 2011 with the late Benjamin Moyo taking charge until his untimely death less than four months into his job.

Philani Mabhena was then thrown into the hot seat before being relegated to the juniors leaving Patrick Mandizha to take charge of one game.

FC Platinum went on to hire Rahman Gumbo in June 2011 and the former championship winning coach with Highlanders spent just a year at the club and was fired leaving his assistant Tendai Chikuni in charge of the 2012 remaining games.

At the beginning of 2013 FC Platinum managed to lure Tenant Chilumba from Hwange and the Zambian had a brief stint before packing his bags to join Power Dynamos in his home land before the halfway mark.

Lloyd Mutasa then took charge of the platinum miners and won the 2014 Independence Cup before being kicked out last year. The club went on to hire Mapeza.

Mapeza marked his arrival at the Zvishavane club by lifting the Chibuku Super Cup title.

However, things have not been rosy for the former Warriors coach.

FC Platinum continue to rally behind their coach with the club calling for fans to be patient.

“We are confident that our coach (Norman Mapeza) will find a winning formula and we cannot blame the coach in these early stages of the season. We’re not pressing any panic buttons,” said a statement from FC Platinum’s spokesperson Chido Chizondo.