In a closely contested match, FC Platinum emerged victorious with a 3-1 win against Herentials College FC. Speaking at the post-match press conference, FC Platinum Coach Norman Mapeza lauded his team’s performance and resilience.
“It was a good game of football,” Mapeza began. “The team played very well, especially in the second half. I knew they [Herentials] were going to come at us aggressively. They can kick, they are very aggressive, and my biggest worry was that one of our players might get injured. But our guys managed to control the game well.”
Mapeza highlighted that despite Herentials’ aggression, they never posed a significant threat. “They never had clear-cut chances in the 90 minutes. We need to improve on our defending, but overall, it was a good game of football. Right now, it’s not so much about how we play but bringing results.”
Reflecting on the recent fixtures, Mapeza noted the tight schedule his team has faced. “The boys went so hard. We never had time to recover after our loss on Thursday, but I’m more than happy with their effort. They did well.”
Addressing the impact of the mid-week victory, Mapeza dismissed the notion of a morale boost, instead emphasizing the physical toll on his players. “There’s nothing like a morale booster. We lost against Chicken Inn and didn’t have time to recover. The guys worked so hard. It’s not about what happens on the pitch but what we do to secure results. That’s the most important thing.”
He said Herentials played aggressively, and while the referees tried to control the game, the aggression sometimes led to injuries. We lost our goalkeeper in the first two minutes, and losing another key player would have been problematic.
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Mapeza concluded by stressing the need for better control over aggressive play. “Aggression needs to be controlled, and referees need to manage these situations to prevent injuries.”
