FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza has called for calm and resilience following his side’s heavy 5–2 defeat to title challengers Scottland FC over the weekend in a Matchday 24 clash of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
The loss, one of FC Platinum’s heaviest, leaves them in fourth place on the log with 40 points from 23 matches. The defending champions were undone by a rampant Scottland side that now sits second on the table with 46 points, just one behind leaders Simba Bhora FC.
Speaking after the match, Mapeza refused to throw his players under the bus, instead choosing to back them publicly while emphasizing the need to keep pushing.
“Look, it’s a game of football. We’re not giving up. We still have to keep fighting,” said Mapeza. “I’m not going to put any blame on the players that worked so hard today. Like I said, we’ll keep on fighting and see how this is going to work.”
Despite the result, FC Platinum still has a game in hand over most of the top three, a factor that could prove crucial in the title run-in. The four-time champions have scored 25 goals this season and remain one of the top offensive units in the league.
Scottland FC, who secured the emphatic win, continued their remarkable run with 14 wins from 24 matches and are now firm contenders for the 2025 league title.
FC Platinum will look to regroup quickly as the season enters its defining phase, with Mapeza urging his team to show character.
