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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
CHAMPIONS FC Platinum set the tone and the rest of the Premiership followed suit as 22 goals were scored on the opening round of the 2019 Premiership season. The platinum miners opened their title defence with a deserved 2-0 away win over Harare City at Rufaro last Friday.

Winger Ali Sadiki scored the first goal of the season after only 30 minutes. It was also a crucial win for Norman Mapeza and his men who had last won against the Sunshine Boys in Harare five years ago.

Unlike the previous seasons when goals were hard to come by, there were goals in eight of the nine matches at the weekend.

The tally of 22 surpassed the 17 goals scored last year.

Only one match, between Herentals and new boys TelOne, failed to produce goals. Chapungu were the biggest winners of the weekend with a 5-0 thrashing of Twitter fanatics, Bulawayo Chiefs.

Giants Dynamos and CAPS had a winning start but Highlanders had to scramble a draw at Black Rhinos.

“Obviously there is still a lot of work to be done. The performance was not up to scratch but the three points were vital,” said Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe.

“I think we have got the depth but we still need to keep our feet on the ground and continue working hard because every game is critical.

“If we cannot get past Mushowani then we can forget about beating FC Platinum. They are the monster in the league.’’

There were also wins for some of the pre-season favourites like Chicken Inn and Triangle while Ngezi Platinum Stars stumbled in the 1-2 defeat at Gibbo.

Highlanders coach, Madinda Ndlovu, picked some positives from the 1-1 draw at Black Rhinos.

“I think it’s too early to say anything. This is the first game of the season and as Highlanders, from where we are coming from, I think it’s really something to be proud off coming out with a point from this game. “