Scottland FC boss Mapeza describes emotions ahead of FC Platinum duel

Zimbabwe’s decorated coach Norman Mapeza spent over a decade building his trophy-laden empire at FC Platinum before taking on his current job at Scottland FC.

Between 2014 and 2024, the former Zimbabwe coach turned the miners into a formidable force, winning three Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) titles.

On Saturday, he will try to dismantle the very same giant he built at Mandava Stadium. Mapeza will lead his new employers, Scottland FC into battle against FC Platinum while carrying a weight of emotions.

 

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Why Mapeza is emotional

“The boys have been working hard knowing exactly that we are going to face a very good team on Saturday FC Platinum. So far, so good,” the ex-Warriors star said.

“It is an emotional feeling. I have been in Zvishavane for nearly a decade—about 10 years and a half—so I have so many friends. It was like my second home, so it is an emotional feeling going back to a place where I grew up as a coach.”

Despite the emotional attachment with the miners, the coach knows that his side needs to focus on collecting maximum points.

“Like I said, I had so many friends there but at the end of the day, we are going there to play a game of football. I am with Scottland FC and now it is very important to go there and try to come back home with a positive result,” the coach added.

Scottland FC desperate to bounce back

The Castle Lager PSL champions are desperate to bounce from last Sunday’s shock 2-1 loss to Simba Bhora, a result that breached their unbeaten run.

Mapeza said the defeat affected some players psychologically, but he had tried to lift them up.

“Usually, some players tend to struggle mentally, but we spoke to the boys when we started training on Tuesday, that in this industry, it is part of this journey. There was a point where we were going to drop points and this happened on Sunday. However, in terms of performance, we did well. If we had buried those chances, we could have been talking a different story,” he added.

After last weekend’s defeat the Castle Lager PSL defending champions lie in third position on the log standings, trailing five points behind the early pacesetters, CAPS United.

Castle Lager PSL Fixtures

• All games kick off at 3pm Southern African Time

Saturday, 9 May

MWOS FC v Chicken Inn FC

FC Platinum v Scottland FC

FC Hunters v Ngezi Platinum Stars

TelOne FC v HardRock FC

Simba Bhora v ZPC Kariba

Bulawayo Chiefs v Herentals College FC

Image: Mapeza: Scottland FC

Manica Diamonds v Agama FC

Sunday, 10 May

Highlanders FC v Triangle United

Dynamos FC v CAPS United