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From Saul Mundandi in ZVISHAVANE
FC Platinum……………………….(2) 3
Black Mambas……………………. (0)1
FC Platinum kept their faint title hopes alive when they dismissed relegation-threatened Black Mambas in a Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at Mandava yesterday.

Nelson Maziwisa, who had failed to find his scoring form, finally did so in the eighth minute before Donald Ngoma weighed in with a double strike in the 11th and 92nd minutes.

It was a good display by the miners in the field of play but this was dented by their executive who denied entry to the league sponsors Castle Lager staff that had with them banners and a backdrop used for post-match interviews.

As if it was not enough this journalist was once again denied entry as the marshals surprisingly allowed other people to get into the stadia with their cars.

This was despite the fact that a number of them did not have privilege cards from the PSL.
It had to take the intervention of Chido Chizondo, the FC Platinum spokesperson, to facilitate their entry although she had also initially been snubbed by her own staff.

With disorder reigning supreme outside the pitch, the FC Platinum players were in a class of their own in a one-sided encounter as Mambas were playing as if they were content with relegation with Evans Gwekwerere failing to justify his inclusion in the starting line up.

He was later substituted for remonstrating with the referee.
The win by FC Platinum saw them occupying the fourth position on the log with 48 points with six points still to play to play for.
Mambas remained rooted on the 12th position with 35 points.

It is one ahead of Black Rhinos who posted a shocking and very rare win by beating CAPS United 3-2 at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

FC Platinum were thrust into the lead by Maziwisa after eight minutes.
“We were caught in sixes and sevens in the first half.

“We played a much improved game in the second half and failed to utilise our chances,” said Martin Bonongwe, the Mambas assistant coach.

FC Platinum’s coach  Lloyd Mutasa was on cloud nine.
“We are just waiting for some slip-ups and we are going to continue fighting and collecting points as an institution.

“I was happy with the display by Ali because he is mature and we need youngsters like him at this stage of the competition. They are no longer easy matches and I am happy that my youngsters created the chances today,” Mutasa said.