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FUN IN THE SUN . . . Norman Mapeza is enjoying a purple patch at FC Platinum which he capped by winning the Coach of the Month award for August yesterday

Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Bulawayo
How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 3

FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza celebrated yet another Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Coach of the Month award in style as his charges stretched their unbeaten run in the top-flight to 14 games with a fine win over How Mine at Luveve yesterday.

It is the second time that Mapeza has won the award having claimed the same prize in July, but with FC Platinum having forced themselves into the reckoning for the championship title, the second award will become all the sweeter for Mapeza.

And to cap the fine day on which the PSL also announced that Chicken Inn striker Mitchell Katsvairo had been voted Player of the Month for August, FC Platinum responded by giving their coach another crucial win on the road.

The platinum miners have not only been winning, but they have been doing that in convincing fashion and yesterday’s result also proved that their 3-1 thumping of champions Dynamos at Mandava on Saturday was not a fluke.

In the month under review FC Platinum managed to collect seven points courtesy of a 2-0 win over Hwange, 2-1 victory at Highlanders and a 0-0 draw with ZPC Kariba.

Katsvairo was also rewarded for some stellar performances that have kept Chicken Inn at the top of the table. But there is no doubt that the Man of the Moment in the Premiership is Mapeza and FC Platinum’s win piled on the pressure for his opposite number at How Mine, Luke Masomere.

The visitors got their goals through Brian Muzondiwa in the 10th minute, Obrey Chirwa four minutes later and a second half own goal by Tapiwa Khumbuyani.

Masomere blamed their poor run on his club’s terrible recruitment strategy that saw them acquiring players past their sell by date with the widely travelled coach saying age was catching up with most of his players.

“We erred as a club in our recruitment exercise by bringing players who had passed their peak,” said a clearly dejected Masomere, whose team has now gone for seven matches without a win.

A number of How Mine players are over the age of 28 and Masomere also hinted that a third force could be the cause of their misery.

“There are other factors contributing to our poor performances that are beyond my control,” said Masomere without elaborating.

FC Platinum, however, had no age worries as they kicked off the match in blistering pace, eager for an early opener. But it was How Mine striker Kuda Musharu who got the attention of Hwange-based referee Bonomali Bwanali, albeit for the wrong reasons, after he was yellow-carded in the ninth minute for a deliberate handball outside the box.

From the set piece, FC Platinum gained possession with Chirwa pulling clear on the left side where he made light work of Morris Kadzola and laid the ball to Elvis Moyo. Moyo exchanged quick passes with Chirwa, who cleverly crossed to the advancing Muzondiwa to open the score sheet.

The home team almost equalised immediately from a free-kick after Wonder Sithole was brought down in an off the ball incident. The platinum miners doubled their lead in the 14th minute in another telling move involving Gerald Takwara and Tatenda Mudehwe, who released Chirwa to charge into the box and score.

Sensing defeat, Masomere pulled out Moses Gutu for Thembani Masuku in the 25th minute, but it was the visitors who almost added a third in the 30th minute, but defender Kumbuyani saved the situation.

How Mine played better in the second half and could have pulled one back within five minutes of restarting, but Nefitary Ndale chose to fall theatrically inside the box instead of heading the ball or simply chesting it into the net.

He was hauled off and replaced by Godfrey Nguwodzawo three minutes later. With How Mine enjoying the lion’s share of possession, the referee stopped play in the FC Platinum half after a second ball was thrown onto the field by a fan.

Play resumed after a drop ball and with How Mine probably expecting FC Platinum to exercise fair play by kicking the ball out, Mudehwe charged forward sending the hosts’ defenders into panic.

Mudehwe drifted into the box and delivered a hard and low cross that beat a drawn out How Mine goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya and fell onto the path of a rushing Kumbuyani, who in a desperate bid to clear pushed the ball into his own net.

“We came looking for a positive result and we got that, we are taking each game as it comes,” said an elated Mapeza.

Teams

How Mine: M Diya, T Kumbuyani, M Gutu (T Masuku 25th min, N Ndale ( G Nguwodzawo 53rd min), N Tachi, M Mupera, T January, W Sithole, K Musharu (T Muparati 80th min), M Kadzola, B Marere ahadzikwa, E Mandiranga

FC Platinum: P Mhari, I Nekati, G Bello, K Moyo, E Moyo, W Mhango, G Takwara ,T Dzumbunu (S Shoko 53rd min), T Mudehwe, B Muzondiwa (R Sibanda 69th min), O Chirwa