Mapisa (23), who is a product of Harare-based ACES Youth
Academy, is on loan from Zemora CF.
His contract with Zamora CF expires on June 30.
According to soca263updates.com, a section of the home fans
occupying the bay behind Mapisa’s goal, were heard continually yelling monkey
chants towards the young Zimbabwean goalminder.
The matter was reportedly brought to the attention of the
match officials who in the 52nd minute issued a warning over the stadium’s
public address system to stop the behaviour and CD Palencia Castillo Atletico
has since issued an apology.
In a statement CD Palencia Castillo Atletico said: “First
of all, our apologies to Martín Mapisa, on behalf of the club and all our fans,
nobody deserves these insults that do not represent our club or our fans. There
is no place in sport or in society for any kind of discriminatory behaviour.
Such repulsive behaviour goes against the sports spirit, the values of our club
and a total lack of respect for all the people who, with their work and effort,
try to make football serve as a benchmark of union between different
communities, social sectors and countries around the world.”
The club added that investigations were under way to
identify the culprits. Mapisa, who was part of the Warriors contingent at the
recently held Afcon finals in Cameroon, was grateful to the club for the
support against racism and explained how difficult it was for foreign players
to work under hostile conditions.
“Sometimes it’s very difficult with our career in a foreign
country. We are just trying to make our dreams come true and to make our family
and loved ones happy so that we can have a better and happy life,” said the
Warriors gloves man.
Mapisa is excelling in Spain and is reportedly under the
radar of several Laliga sides including Real BetisBalompe.
Although ACES Youth Soccer Academy director, Nigel Munyati,
recently refused to give finer details to our sister paper The Herald, he
confirmed a deal was in the oven pertaining to the historic move.
“Mapisa (Martin) hopefully can secure a move into one of
the La Liga clubs this coming transfer period but unfortunately I cannot
divulge more on the goings-on. I am very happy and everyone is excited to see
one of our own products attracting the interests of such big teams in world
football,” Munyati was quoted as saying.
Upon his return from AFCON, Mapisa sat on the bench in the
matches against Arosa CS, UP Langreo, UC Ceares and Salamanca as Viti Gonzalez
was given the nod in those four games.
But once the Zimbabwean got an opportunity against
Pontevera in UD Llanera’s 1-0 win, he has never looked back and has been
guarding the posts for his new side.
Mapisa’s idol is Germany’s top shot-stopper Manuel Peter
Neuer, has been making some steady progress in the European country playing for
lower league teams since arriving in Spain three years ago. The Zimbabwean
goalkeeper is being touted as the future Warriors number one although he hasn’t
been given much game-time in the several occasions he has been called into the
senior national team.
He was one of the only three players who never got a chance
to play at the AFCON finals in Cameroon along with striker David Moyo and
defender Alec Mudimu.
FC Platinum’s Petros Mhari was entrusted with guarding the
goal in Zimbabwe’s opening two matches against Senegal and Malawi which the
Warriors lost before Talbert Shumba got the nod to play in that position in the
dead-rubber final group match against Guinea. B Metro
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