SPORTS REPORTER
ZVISHAVANE- Football fans around the country have sympathized with the national team interim head coach, Norman Muchina Wemajuzi Mapeza for being used by ZIFA to cover up for their glaring shortcomings.
Mapeza was in charge of The Warriors in the four nations tournament that was held in Malawi and had a few days to make the team jel but it was totally put on the spotlight by Kenya who thrashed them 3-1 in the final.
The Warriors went to the final after beating Zambia through a penalty shoot out, but the final was a different game altogether where Mapeza’s frustration earned him a red card as well as Teenage Hadebe.
Mapeza is still to taste defeat in 2024 with his side FC Platinum after defeating Chegutu Pirates 1-0 and Ngezi Platinum Stars 2-0.
This he achieved by a side which he took time to get combinations right and create his tactical prowess however, it was a different scenario with the Warriors of which the squad he did not select himself but as a coach he did well in the first game.
Speaking to The Midweek Watch, football fanatic, Moses Banda said Mapeza should stick to his FC Platinum side otherwise this national team will tear him into pieces and may cause him to lose focus.
“The red card he got was more of frustration for his team more than the referee, Kenya played better than us especially their striker, Michael Olunga.
“They showed hunger and preparedness unlike us, there is a lot of disorganization in the camp and they call Mapeza to get sacrificed.
“He should stick to his FC Platinum and win back the league rather than being used in such a disgraceful manner.
“The team had good players but they had no time to prepare and that’s a ZIFA problem,” he said.
Shantel Sibanda also said Mapeza is not lucky when it comes to international football coupled by lack of preparedness on the part of ZIFA.
“We watched Mapeza in the CAF Champions league he never passed the group stages and this time he lost the final he isn’t just luck, but also ZIFA let him down with time and resources to prepare the players up for the task”, she said.
