TAWANDA CHARI
It’s been a strangely subdued start to the season for FC Platinum, one of the Premier Soccer League’s most consistent and decorated outfits in recent years. After 10 matches, the Zvishavane-based side has found the back of the net just a mere six times. That’s a pace of 20 goals over 34 games if things don’t improve and that’s being generous at the moment. If they regress however, it could get even uglier.
What’s even more alarming is the trend: four straight draws, just one win in their last five matches, and a staggering eight draws in total. This is not the FC Platinum we’ve come to expect under the steady stewardship of Norman Mapeza.
While Mapeza has previously admitted concerns over his team’s lack of goals—alongside the general goal drought plaguing the entire league, his recent comments suggest a man either forgetting or refusing to publicly admit just how big the problem has become.
Two weeks ago, he appeared to explicitly say he was "worried" about FC Platinum’s lack of goals. In a recent presser, when reminded by a journalist of his earlier statements about worrying over the team’s toothless attack, the gaffer flat-out denied ever expressing such "worry". The former Warriors coach insisted he never said that and walked out of last Thursday's post-match interview, accusing a journalist of "putting words in his mouth".
It’s understandable. The pressure is immense. FC Platinum are four-time league champions, with their last title coming in the 2021/22 season, when they scored a commanding 52 goals. In comparison, they managed 44 goals in 2024, 37 in 2023 and 34 back in 2019.
The current trajectory is a far cry from those figures. Their famed structured play and tactical discipline remain intact. Defensively, they’ve not been poor. But the lack of a clinical edge in the final third has been glaring. There’s an obvious disconnect in the attacking phases and without goals, you don't win games and titles remain a pipe dream.
But the season is still young.
With a few tweaks and a revival in confidence, FC Platinum can certainly salvage the campaign. They remain within touching distance of the leading pack, thanks largely to their stubborn defence and ability to grind out draws rather than suffer defeats.
However, if they are to mount a serious league challenge, the urgency to rediscover their scoring boots cannot be overstated. ZVISHAVANE awaits a resurgence. The champions must rise or risk fading into the crowd.
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