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THE BATTLE IS ON . . . FC Platinum forward Obrey Chirwa fights for possession with How Mine defender Qadr Amin during their Castle Lager Premiership tie at Luveve yesterday. — Picture by Paul Mundandi

Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

THIS Castle Lager Premiership match might have ended goalless, but the fans enjoyed every minute of the action as the How Mine and FC Platinum coaches laid bare their tactical shrewdness at Luveve yesterday.

For the home team coach Kelvin Kaindu, this felt like two points dropped while his counterpart Norman Mapeza said he had gained a massive point.

Mapeza and his men have now gone for 29 league matches without defeat, winning 18 games and drawing 11, in a remarkable run that stretches back to last May.

Yesterday, Kaindu had the audacity of taking out towering central defender Victor Kamhuka, replacing him with Praise Tonha, four minutes before the breather.

“We felt we were coming short there as our opponents’ midfielders were able to run behind our central midfielders and that stabilised the department,” said Kaindu.

How Mine had their first chance in the 21st minute when Charles Sibanda shook off a tame challenge, but his ambition, if not selfishness, drove him to go for goal instead of passing to his colleagues Pasca Manhanga and Kuda Musharu who had moved into good positions.

Two minutes later, Rodwell Chinyengetere broke How Mine’s offside trap and chipped the ball over ‘keeper Munyaradzi Diya only for his effort to sail over the bar.

The second half saw Mapeza taking out Tarisai Rukanda for winger Marshal Mudehwe in the 49th minute, but again Kaindu quickly read the plan and also pulled out Manhanga for Toto Banda.

In the 52nd minute, Sibanda found himself face-to-face with ‘keeper Petros Mhari, but failed to convert.

The hosts had the ball in the net on the hour mark, but it was disallowed for a foul on the ‘keeper.

“It might be difficult for me to comment from the angle were we were, but in Africa such goals are always disallowed, but in Europe it’s an undeniable goal,” said Kaindu.

Walter Musona could have won the match for his side in the 74th minute, but his shot missed the upright post by inches.

Three minute before the end, Diya produced a brilliant save when he went airborne to stop a screamer from Mudehwe.

“It was a game of two halves, we did well in the first half, but How Mine were all over us in the second, the truth must be told,” said Mapeza.

“We are still on the right road. We agreed with the boys that if we fail to pick maximum points, we would rather get one and this point is really massive to us.”

Teams

How Mine: M. Diya, T. Kumbuyani, Q. Amin, K. Chideu, V. Kamhuka (P. Tonha 41st min), M. Sakala, T. Ranthokane (G. Nguwodzawo 71st min), P. Manhanga (T. Banda 51st min) K. Musharu, C. Sibanda T. Masuku

FC Platinum: P. Mhari, I. Nekati, G. Bello, K. Moyo, E. Moyo, N. Masuku, R. Chinyengetere, T. Dzumbunu, W. Musona, T. Rukanda (M. Mudehwe 49th min), O. Chirwa