FC PLATINUM gaffer Norman Mapeza remains optimistic his men will get their scoring mojo back as they brace for a tough challenge against Green Fuel FC at Mandava Stadium this afternoon.
The four-time Premier Soccer League champions have had a rather slow start to the season, where they have only managed one win in five matches.
They beat Manica Diamonds in a home match, where defender Nickson Nyasulu was the goalscorer.
And Mapeza has raised a red flag on his strikers, who have been firing blanks.
Last time out, they failed to convert a series of chances they got against Kwekwe United.
This time around, he is optimistic they will get it right.
“It’s all about belief, it’s all about confidence. That’s what we need, it will happen, we will get the goals,” Mapeza said.
“But we need to be patient and we need to have belief and confidence going forward.”
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He wants to anchor their title challenge on taking full advantage of home matches.
“Yeah, I always talk about it, but you know, in football, results can go either way. But if you look at football all over the world, your own matches, you need to maximise. When you’re playing at home, you need to maximise.
“If you’re playing a very good team, they went to Bikita, they managed to score goals. So in terms of morale and confidence, I think they’re very, very high,” the Pure Platinum Play mentor said.
“You know, like I said, for us, if we’re going to think that it’s not happening, then psychologically we’re going to bring ourselves down. We’re okay. The teams on top of us, Ngezi, they are just maybe four points, six points ahead of us.
“The other one, MWOS, maybe it’s four points ahead of us. So we’re not far away, it’s just five games into the season. We just need to have confidence, we need to have belief.”
Added Mapeza: “Everything will fall into place, definitely. If we look at the statistics locally, which team has scored 10 goals? We are still on the same page.
“We are still trying to negotiate our way to get goals. To get goals, of course, they (Green Fuel) have been scoring 1-0, 2-2, 4-2, and things like that.
“But if you go from 2-0 down, push up to 2-2, of course, it’s a plus for you guys because you’re coming from behind. But at the end of the day, I’m sure if you talk to the coach, you’ll tell him maybe those two goals they scored, they could have been avoided.
“We haven’t been scoring, we have been creating chances. That’s one positive I didn’t talk about. We have been creating those opportunities. But like I said, it’s a process. Let’s start the process.”
FC Platinum have played four draws with one win.
They have so far scored two goals, but have been at their defensive best, conceding just one thus far.
In another potential thriller, TelOne face a tough test against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Ascot Stadium.
Ngezi have been ruthless, as they sit on top of the table having put together a string of four wins in their last four.
Madamburo are coming from an impressive win over Caps United, while TelOne suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Simba Bhora.
TelOne maintains a clean sheet at home, having beaten Triangle and Caps United.
They hope to keep their good home record.
At Rufaro, Yadah FC will be looking forward to make a big statement when they face the star-studded Scottland FC.
Yadah, who lost 1-0 to Green Fuel last week, are aiming to shock Scottland, who are coming from an impressive win over Bikita Minerals.
In this one, Khama Billiat will look to break his goal duck, having struggled to score this far.—
