It was planned: Mapeza

By Ray Munyoro

FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza believes their elimination from the CAF Champions League at the hands of Tanzanian outfit, Simba SC, was “planned” and there was nothing they could have done.
The Zimbabweans suffered a 4-0 defeat in controversial circumstances and Mapeza was not hesitant to call a spade a spade.
Four of the Zimbabwean players in the starting line-up reportedly returned positive results for Covid-19 moments before kick-off. Interestingly, according to Mapeza, the four players are from all departments which makes it glaringly orchestrated.
The players included first choice goalkeeper Petros Mhari, defensive pillar Lawrence Mhlanga, midfielder Silas Songani, forward Eli Ilunga and Rainsome Pavari who is usually introduced to “kill the game” and good at his role.
“It seems like it was something that was planned because if you look at it, it was department by department that got affected. It really affected us a lot but at the end of the day there was nothing we could do,” said the gaffer.
Mapeza, who had to intervene for his boys to continue playing, said his troops were affected psychologically.
“It’s always difficult when so many things happen before the game. It tends to affect the players psychologically.
“You can try to speak to the boys to remain calm and focused but I think everybody saw what happened during the game,” he said.
There was also an outcry over poor officiating and Mapeza concurs the referee aided Simba’s cause.
“I think the referee did his best to kill us psychologically because at the end of the day the boys got so much irritated by what was happening.
“And it really made life difficult for us but it’s something which we should draw some lessons from.”
Pure Platinum Play have been relegated to the inferior CAF Confederation Cup and will know their group Friday. Nhau/Indaba