FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza's press conferences are some of the most frank interactions with the media.
On Saturday he did not hold back as he criticised the Wadzanayi Stadium pitch after watching his team kick off their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign with a goalless draw against the champions, Simba Bhora.
Last season FC Platinum were the only team that completed a double over Simba Bhora.
This time Mapeza was not happy with the playing conditions and felt on a better patch his team could have also played better.
"Look at the grass. What do you think? The grass is too big and the pitch is heavy. It's too heavy," Mapeza told the media after the match.
“The grass was too long, and it made it difficult for the players to move the ball around.”
The outspoken championship winning gaffer was also critical of the small technical area.
"Look at this technical area, how many meters from the pitch. Where can I go as a coach. Where do I operate from as a coach. The technical area is too small,” he said. “It’s difficult to communicate with your players when you’re cramped in a small space.”
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About the game itself Mapeza observed that his side could have won the match had they been more clinical.
“It was a good game, in the first half we played some quality football and created chances. I think if we were clinical, we could have scored before the restart,” he said.
“In the second half, Simba Bhora had their moments, but they never troubled us except for that mistake from Bizabani. I’m more than happy with the point because it was our first game of the season, and we didn’t play many friendly matches due to our geographical location.”
On the other Simba Bhora's Joel Luphahla said his side need a couple of more games to try and gain fluency.
“It was not an easy game to play against FC Platinum in our opening match of the season, and they have a good coach with a lot of experience,” he said.
“The first game of the season is always tricky, but I think we are heading in the right direction. The boys are showing a lot of positives, and I believe we will be a different side after three games.”
Both teams paraded new players with the home side a much changed side from last season with a new technical set up and a host of new players.
FC Platinum, seeking to wrestle back the league title also went shopping and they paraded their new acquisitions who include Malawian nationals.
