Angry Norman Mapeza threatens to quit football due to "consistently poor" referees

©FC Platinum

FOOTBALL Angry Norman Mapeza threatens to quit football due to "consistently poor" referees

Festus Chuma 21:30 - 02.05.2023

The former Warriors captain was the first Zimbabwean to play in the Uefa Champions League with Galatasaray.

FC Platinum head coach Norman Mapeza has threatened to walk away from the beautiful game after expressing anger following his team's defeat to Herentals College in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League.

The Platinum Miners fell 1-0 through a goal from Tino Mbenza three minutes after the hour mark in a match played on Monday afternoon.

Speaking after the game in Harare, Mapeza claimed some referee decisions hard did his side and won't mind quitting football if things don't get better.

"With the way I love football, some of these things are going to force me to quit football. It's not worth it, it's not worth it," the former Zimbabwe national team head coach emphasized.

"I love soccer so much. I want to see these kids develop as footballers but these things are going to make me to quit football. Why am I here? I would rather go and rest. Someone can get hacked two, or three times in front of you; you leave it.

"Let's be honest, we are going nowhere (with our football).Let's help each other here while we do our work; you (journalists) also have a role to play. Let's be truthful, is this what we are looking for in our football?"

The loss left FC Platinum in fifth place on the Zimbabwe Premier League table with 11 points from eight matches.

Mapeza is a respected figure in African football, having been on the Zimbabwe national team's technical bench on over five occasions.

At FC Platinum, this is his third stint, coaching the side between 2014 and 2019 2020 before returning in November 2021.

During his first tenure, Platinum made history by winning back-to-back league titles and reaching the group stages of the prestigious CAF Champions League.

The former Galatasaray midfielder was also once in charge of South Africa Premier Soccer League side Chippa United.