WHILE focus at FC Platinum has been on team revival, the Moyo twins Kelvin and Elvis who had been frozen out of the team have seized the opportunity to reclaim their status. MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The Moyo brothers arrived in Zvishavane in January last year from Bantu Rovers and quickly established themselves as two of the most promising defenders in the country.
Then under the tutelage of Zambian coach Tenant Chilumba, the efforts of the Moyo brothers did not go unnoticed and the two were quickly included in Klaus-Dieter Pagels’ Warriors squad.
Pagels included the promising youngsters who had starred for their club and the national Under-20 side into his squad that faced Zambia in Lusaka in April last year.
However, the two defenders were frozen out of the squad by Lloyd Mutasa who had assumed the reins in the second half of last year.
Surprisingly Mutasa who had hitherto lauded their defensive abilities and was part of the Warriors technical team that included them in the squad representing the country, found their abilities not good enough at FC Platinum.
The coming in of Mapeza saw the Moyo brothers shrugging off challenge from Aaron Katebe, James Marufu, Qadri Amini and Gift Bello to reclaim their place in the team. Elvis and Kelvin have since justified their inclusion in the team, erecting an impenetrable barrier as the platinum miners defence barricade.
Kelvin plays at the heart of defence on the left side of the back two while his brother slots at left-back. Against Dynamos on Saturday, they started together at the left side of defence and were unyielding.
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Whenever the opponent breaks from the left flank which rarely happens, Kelvin will be on standby to cover for his brother.
The understanding they have and the basics of defence they display in their arsenal will remind local football fans of the Ivorian connection at Arsenal when the defensive efforts of Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Eboue helped the Gunners reach the Uefa Champions league final in 2006.
Mapeza who has played at the highest level, including the Uefa Champions League and has had a fair career as coach to date, lauded the Moyo twins influence on the team, but without saying much as he preferred to comment on team performance rather than individuals.
“We want them in the team, they have a positive influence on the team. They play according to the demands of the team. That is why they are playing,” he said.
The return of the twins to their bewitching best will no doubt equip Mapeza with welcome tactical flexibility.
His right-back and defensive midfield options will be bolstered with Katebe able to play on both positions as well as Marufu, but could leave Daniel Veremu watching from the bench.
If Katebe is moved further up the field, it could allow Thabani Kamusoko to influence things in the final third and leave defensive duties to the Zambian, with both players having performed to distinction in the positions before.
