Ex-Chippa coach Mapeza reacts to winning fourth title on the trot

Ex-Chippa United coach Norman Mapeza has reached to winning Zimbabwe’s 2021/22 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.

Mapeza says the league triumph comes as a bonus as they were working without a specific target for the season.

The tactician helped FC Platinum win their fourth Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title on the trot with three games to spare.

And they have now matched the record set by Dynamos between 2011 and 2014 then under the tutelage of Callisto Pasuwa.

HUGE ACHIEVEMENT

“It’s massive achievement. It was a lot of hard work. Maybe we could have been where we are today after two years. But here we are,” Mapeza told Journalists after their game with Caps United.

“For me, I always go to bed at around 12. I plan. I want to know how our opponents play. I’m and am always looking for information. But now I can go home and rest.

“It has been hard work from the executive, players and even supporters. We never worked with a target. 

“The executive didn’t ‘say we want this’ so we worked without any pressure and this is one of the reasons we are here.”

For Mapeza, this is his third title with the league pass masters.

In 2019 he left the club to join Chippa United, and they finished the campaign with Lizwe Sweswe at the helm.

In total, this is his fourth title having one with the now-defunct Monomotapa before adding three more with the ambitious platinum miners.

SPECIAL TITLE

What makes this one special is the fact that they won it with a squad dominated by rookies promoted from the Under-19 developmental side.

When the 2021/22 season started they parted ways with a number of senior players.

They took a new trajectory to rejuvenate their team by retaining players under the age of 28. 

In that vein, they let go two time Soccer Star of the Year and former Baroka midfielder Rodwell Chinyengetere, former Yanga forward Donald Ngoma, Silas Songani and Kelvin Madzongwe among others.

Meanwhile they now sit on a 18-match unbeaten run and will be hoping to maintain the spotless record until the season ends next month.

Striker Walter Musona is now two goals shy of leading goalscorer William Manondo, with 13 goals to his name.

In truth, Musona is now favorite to be crowned Soccer Star of the year.

Meanwhile goalie Wallace Magalane is in top contention to win the Goalkeeper of the Year accolade with 14 clean sheets in 18 games.