FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza says his players were tired when they played a 2-2 home draw against new boys Dongo Sawmill in their first Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Mandava Stadium on Saturday.
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“The boys were looking tired after we played an international match a week before against Young Africans in Tanzania. The weather was not favourable there (in Tanzania). It was hot and humid and we did not have time to rest, but I cannot say that was an excuse. Dongo are a good side. They are not a small team. You saw what happened when Tsholotsho beat Harare City on Friday. This is going to be a long season,” Mapeza said.
FC Platinum lost 1-5 to Young Africans in the first round first leg of the Orange Caf Confederation Cup on March 15. They host the East Africans at Mandava this Saturday.
They have played two other international matches bundling out Sofapaka of Kenya in the preliminary round of the Confederation Cup.
The former Warriors gaffer, however, said he was hoping to come right in the next game away to Caps United who beat debutants Whawha 2-1 at Ascot on Sunday.
“We hope to rise and thrive on getting positive results,” Mapeza said.
Dongo were on target first through Physwell Madhazi with Platinum equalising through Walter Musona before the new boys went ahead again through Blessing Dzumbunu.
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Donald Ngoma got the late equaliser for Platinum to settle for a point. Chicken Inn picked up maximum points when they dispatched new boys Flame Lily 2-1 at Luveve Stadium on Saturday. They will hit the road for Harare City in the second match.
Hwange without head coach Nation Dube, who was with the Under-23 Young Warriors in Harare, suffered the heaviest defeat in the first game, losing 2-5 to the Kelvin Kaindu-coached Triangle at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday. New boys Whawha were beaten 1-2 by Caps United at Ascot Stadium on Sunday.
It was a fair share for the Southern Region teams in the start of the league with Tsholotsho and Chicken Inn picking up maximum points, How Mine and Chapungu sharing the spoils in a goalless draw at Luveve on Sunday while Highlanders and Whawha were on the receiving end.
