HIGHLANDERS’ coach Baltemar Brito believes his side can claim a victory against champions elect FC Platinum when the two sides clash in a league match at Barbourfields Stadium today.
The Brazil-born Portuguese coach is buoyed by the fact that Highlanders has vastly improved since he arrived four months ago while it has also posted the same results as FC Platinum in the last five games.
FC Platinum already looks set to clinch their fourth Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title on the trot and Brito says they will be happy with a top four finish.
Today’s game promises one of the best clashes in the 2021-2022 season.
“In average for an example, in the last five games both teams have had the same points; we have three victories and two draws and they have three victories and three draws. They (FC Platinum with Norman Mapeza) have come a long way and we have only been here for four months. Of course we are worried because we want to win all the games. For us to win consistently we need to play good football game by game; it’s a process,” Brito said.
In the last five games, Highlanders beat Caps United, Yadah and Triangle on the trot with two draws against Herentals and Cranborne Bullets amassing 11 points while in getting the same number of points, FC Platinum accounted for Bulawayo City, WhaWha and Manica Diamonds and shared the spoils with Ngezi Platinum Stars and Black Rhinos.
Brito reckons they played well in their last away match with Cranbore Bullets although it ended in a stalemate, but since they arrived at Highlanders they have dropped only a considerable number of points.
“The last game that we played was very good, but we dropped points. But this does not mean that everything is wrong, the process is there. The boys created a lot of chances, they tried, they put up a fight like what the Highlanders fans expect from them and this was good. The only difference is we are dropping some points but not too much for the last four month. If you look at FC Platinum this is their fourth consecutive championship. Let’s wait and let’s watch,” Brito said.
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Even Mapeza has admitted Bosso have played well ahead of the clash tomorrow.
“We are going to Bulawayo to face Highlanders and if you look at their previous matches they have been doing very well. I think they are the second team in the league which has managed to collect a lot of points, so it is going to be a massive game for us,” Mapeza said.
Today’s fixtures
Manica Diamonds FC v Dynamos FC (Sakubva Stadium, 3pm)
Caps United FC Vs Triangle United FC (National Sports Stadium, 3pm)
