From Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane

FC Platinum . . . . . .  (2) 3

How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . .0

FC Platinum underlined their resurgence when they brought bubbling How Mine down to earth with a convincing Castle Lager Premier Soccer League win at Mandava yesterday.

The Platinum miners have endured trying times in the last two months with coach Norman Mapeza bearing the brunt of the pressure as they struggled for form and speculation mounted over the former Warriors coach’s future at the club.

But the club’s chiefs stood by their coach and the players and yesterday FC Platinum registered their second successive win and third in the campaign when they made a mockery of a How Mine outfit that pumped half a dozen goals past WhaWha last weekend.

Zimbabwe Under-23 skipper Wisdom Mutasa, Zambian youth international Obrey Chirwa scored in the first half and substitute Wellington Kamudyariwa added another one in the second period that brought How Mine crashing.

Mutasa scored direct from a corner from the left beating the entire visitors defence and goalkeeper Donovan Bernard in the 28th minute.

The Young Warriors captain who had recently been relegated t0 the bench spoke of his goal and said he had been working on the set pieces from his time at the academy. “I have been training very hard since my days at Aces Academy and at school to bend the ball.

Today I was rewarded and I am excited to have scored my first league goal. I want to keep on working hard and focused,” said Mutasa.

Chirwa who missed most of the games because of malaria kept the How Mine strikers on their feet each time he was in possession.

The Zambian was rewarded for his industry when he found the hosts’ second goal when he connected a cross from the left to beat Bernard.

Kamudyariwa then sealed victory a minute before time after coming to the end of a fine pass from substitute Simon Shoko who drew the How Mine goalkeeper off his line, allowing the former to lob the ball over.

Wonder Sithole thought he had the ball in the back of the nets in the 83rd minute when he caught the platinum defence napping but his effort was ruled offside by first assistant referee Allen Parehwa.

Timothy January who scored four goals last weekend was this time a — pale shadow of himself. Veterans Kudakwashe Musharu and Limited Chikafa also failed to come to the party and it was only after the introduction of former FC Platinum forwards Benjamin Marere and Charles Sibanda and Mgcini Sibanda that How Mine started to take the game to the hosts.

But they could not breach an unyielding defence of Gift Bello, Rapheal Muduviwa, and the Moyo twins Elvis and Kelvin.

Winston Mhango and Allan Gahadzikwa also played pivotal roles as they outshone their opposite number Menard Mupera.

Francis Tizayi kept a clean sheet for the second successive game in which FC Platinum forwards have now scored six goals having won by a similar margin against Tsholotsho.

Mapeza attributed the victory to hard work. “We are trying to be consistent and keep the momentum going. We won because of hardwork. Nothing comes on a silver platter and we need to keep on working hard. Things have not been going on well for us and we did not look down,” said Mapeza.

His outspoken How Mine counterpart Luke Masomere accepted defeat.

“Platinum played good football and we also played very well. We were denied a genuine goal and I will not castigate the referees.

“The referee pointed to the centre but the assistant’s flag was up. We are in the right direction. We played very well although we had mistakes here and there and 3-0 was not supposed to be the outcome of the game,” said Masomere.

 

Teams:

FC Platinum: F. Tizayi, R. Muduviwa, G. Bello, K. Moyo, E. Moyo, W. Mhango, A. Gahadzikwa, W. Mutasa (E. Mandiranga 85th minute ),B. Muzondiwa (S Shoko 57th minute),T. Rukanda, O. Chirwa

How Mine: B. Donovan, T. Kumbuyani, M. Gutu, M. Mupera, N. Tachi, N. Mukumbi, W. Sithole, H. Masuku (B. Marere 44th minute),K. Musharu, L. Chikafa (M. Sibanda 67th minute),T. January (C. Sibanda 67th minute)

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey