COACH Norman Mapeza anticipates a tough challenge when his club take on TelOne in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Bata Stadium in Gweru tomorrow.
FC Platinum have been cruising nicely, having won four of their last five matches, with a draw as their only blemish
And they face TelOne, who are desperate to climb up to safe zone following a slow start in their topflight league return.
Last weekend, the Wi-Fi Boys recorded their third win of the season after beating Arenel Movers 2-1 in Bulawayo.
They moved out of the drop zone for the first time since Herbert Maruwa’s arrival, which was his first victory since joining TelOne in May.
The former Dynamos and Black Rhinos mentor has been in charge of four league matches since replacing Tendai Chikuni at TelOne.
And he has managed one win, two draws and a loss, which amounts to five points out of a possible 12.
Facing the four-time league champions presents them with an opportunity to test their pedigree again as the transfer window opens.
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As such, Mapeza is bracing for a tough challenge, knowing what their Midlands rivals are plotting.
“We don’t have any complaints despite those two guys who are with the national team. We have Bothwell [Nzori] who is not here due to a family bereavement.
“We are playing a good team. They started very well, but like I always say, in football, you go through those phases where things won’t be going on well,” the Pure Platinum Play mentor said.
“But look, they have some new guys who have been there for the past four games and from the information I gathered, they have massively improved.
“It’s not going to be easy. Last week, they picked maximum points in Bulawayo. It is going to be difficult, but right now, it is about us, how much we want the points. We have to be organised in terms of controlling the game and utilising the chances we get.”
