FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza is eager to retain the league title again this year despite a marathon run that has seen them failing to a get a break since the end of last season.

Pure Platinum Play have not had much of rest as they were playing in the Champions League and now in the domestic campaign. Their situation was compounded when the Confederation of African Football decided to align the continental calendar with the European one.

“Our target remains the same, which is to retain the league title. This is going to be a marathon and obviously, later fatigue is going to catch up with us. We need to find a way to manage this, by giving the players some rest,” said Mapeza whose side will be back in Africa in August.

FC Platinum who remains the favourites to win the league title opens the season on Friday against Harare City which has troubled him at Rufaro stadium over the past seasons.