HERENTALS coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva has promised to give a good fight as they seek to complete a double over champions-in-waiting FC Platinum, whom they face in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Mandava Stadium at the weekend.
With FC Platinum now 10 points clear of closest challengers Chicken Inn on 64 points with only five matches left in the campaign, the title is seen as theirs to lose.
But Norman Mapeza’s men still need at least six points in their next two matches to clinch the ultimate prize for the fourth time in a row.
That means the match against Herentals carries a lot of significance if they are to be confirmed champions with three games to spare.
Mapeza, on his part, has told his players to approach the remaining games as they have been doing in the past which has seen them go on a 15-match unbeaten run.
He described the remaining games as the games of “our lives” in the build-up to the clash against Highlanders whom they went on to beat 3-2 in a tension-filled contest at Barbourfields last Sunday.
Herentals were the last team to beat FC Platinum, a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture on April 30.
FC Platinum on their part had a sluggish start to the campaign, suffering a shock 2-0 defeat to Bulawayo Chiefs on February 13 before being edged 1-0 by Ngezi Platinum on March 19.
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The Students coach Mutiwekuziva believes their victory over the champions-in-waiting was in itself a major confidence booster ahead of the clash.
Interestingly, the two teams will clash again in the semi- final of the Chibuku Super Cup next weekend.
“It’s definitely going to be a very tough match against FC Platinum, they are almost the champions this season. But we have confidence going to Mandava considering we beat them in the reverse fixture,” Mutiwekuziva said.
“That in its own is a major confidence booster. It motivates us because we are targeting a top-four finish, so to keep in check the teams competing for the top four, we have to fight for the points. We are going to give a very good fight. A victory will also boost our morale going into the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup where we meet them.”
While FC Platinum boast an impressive run of 15 matches without defeat, the Students have lost just once in the past five games and won their last match against Cranborne Bullets. It’s highly likely sparks will fly in this contest.
