FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza expressed satisfaction after his team’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over TelOne FC in the Chibuku Super Cup, though he acknowledged that creativity in the final third was lacking.
In a post-match interview with Great Dyke News’ Obert Sithole, Mapeza highlighted his team’s disciplined performance but admitted that the absence of creativity up front almost cost them the match.
“We did very well in terms of ball circulation, but there was no creativity in the final third,” he said, noting that while his side had a few chances, they were mostly half-chances that could have been better utilized.
The game’s defining moment came in the second half when Mapeza made a tactical substitution, bringing in Oscar Bhebhe, who scored the only goal of the match. “Oscar came in and gave us that important goal,” Mapeza remarked, crediting the substitution with turning the tide in their favor.
Mapeza also spoke about the challenge of switching from league to cup competition, emphasizing the different mentalities required. “In the league, you can play for a point, but in cup games, it’s all about 90 minutes,” he said, praising his players for adapting to the change and understanding the importance of the game.
This victory marks Mapeza’s first win over TelOne since 2018, when the two sides last met at Mandava Stadium.
