FC Platinum head coach Norman Mapeza is making headlines once more—not for his team’s performance, but for a heated exchange with a journalist following a recent match.
The controversy erupted during a post-match press briefing on Wednesday, when a journalist asked Mapeza whether he remained concerned about his team’s ongoing scoring struggles—an issue the coach himself had raised in a previous interview. Mapeza reacted sharply, cutting the journalist off mid-question and denying he had ever expressed concern, accusing the reporter of misquoting him.
What followed was an intense verbal outburst. Mapeza raised his voice, pointed fingers, and repeatedly referred to the reporter as “young man” in a patronizing tone, behavior that many observers deemed inappropriate and intimidating in a professional setting.
The incident has sparked renewed criticism of Mapeza’s treatment of the media, especially given his status as a former Zimbabwe national team coach and ex-Galatasaray player. The situation escalated further when Mapeza abruptly left the press conference, telling the remaining journalists he would not participate in future media sessions if the same reporter was present.
In other news!!! pic.twitter.com/tGcZFCXWlA
— HON Job Wiwa Sikhala (@JobSikhala1) April 30, 2025
This is far from the first time Mapeza has clashed with the press. A similar controversy was documented nearly a decade ago in a Sunday Mail article titled “No Norman, let journalists do their job,” which described the coach’s interactions with the media as aggressive and domineering.
In that earlier incident, Mapeza reportedly refused to speak to veteran journalist Paul Saul Mundandi, who had written a critical piece following FC Platinum’s 5–1 defeat to Tanzanian side Young Africans in the CAF Confederation Cup. Mapeza allegedly responded by refusing interviews in Mundandi’s presence, sparking widespread backlash from media professionals.
The Sunday Mail did not hold back in its criticism, describing Mapeza’s behavior as “bullying,” particularly pointing out his tendency to use forceful hand gestures during conversations. The piece emphasized that Mapeza had no authority to dictate how journalists do their jobs, urging him to focus on his coaching responsibilities instead.
It stated:
“Only the players, staff, and perhaps your spouse are answerable to you. You do not get to police journalism. Respect the media, and they’ll respect you back.”
Despite nearly ten years passing since that publication, critics argue little has changed in Mapeza’s approach. With the latest episode now trending, many are beginning to ask a serious question: Are journalists safe and respected in Norman Mapeza’s presence?
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