Zimpapers Logo

EYEING THE BIG ONE . . . Lloyd Mutasa has now set his sights on guiding FC Platinum to BancABC Cup glory against Shabanie Mine

Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
FC PLATINUM coach Lloyd Mutasa was yesterday still basking in the glory of guiding the miners into their first major final but also revealed that he has already turned his attention to their BancABC Sup8r Cup Zvishavane derby showdown with Shabanie Mine.
The two sides won their respective semi-finals at Barbourfields on Saturday and yesterday, to set up a potentially thrilling BancABC Sup8r Cup decider on September 21.

FC Platinum stormed into their first major cup final since their entry into the Premiership when they dispatched Monomotapa 3-1 in the first semi-final at Barbourfields on Saturday just 24 hours before Shabanie stunned Dynamos after penalties at the same venue.
To reach the semi-finals, FC Platinum had prevailed over Highlanders in what was Mutasa’s first match in charge of the Zvishavane-based side and now he has gone a step further to reach the final.

Donald Ngoma gave FC Platinum the advantage before Charles Sibanda increased the lead while Monomotapa’s Last Sithole scored an own goal before Hillary Mugoniwa pulled what turned out to be a consolation effort.

Since bursting into in the Premiership, FC Platinum have never reached the final, let alone winning a major cup of this magnitude and Mutasa is now hopeful of going all the way to get the silverware.

“It’s a great achievement for FC Platinum, considering that this is the first major cup final that the club has reached.
“The team has played in cup finals before but never from a competition that was as inclusive, it was mainly invitational,” said Mutasa.
Mutasa believes reaching the cup final will also be great source of motivation to his side who are also in the running for the Castle Lager Premiership title, albeit as outsiders.

“This is a great motivation for the lads,” said Mutasa.
But the former Dynamos coach is not taking their opponents lightly for the final that was initially set for Harare but could still be billed for Mandava.

“Derby matches are usually closely contested affairs and this final should not be any different”.
Mutasa said he still has enough time to prepare his team for the final in three weeks time. Mutasa paid tribute to his players and to his team’s executive for helping them during the preparations for the semi-finals.

“I must thank the team management for affording us the opportunity to go and feel the venue before the match.
“So it was to our advantage that we knew Barbourfields better than Monomotapa,” said Mutasa.

It is also the first cup final for Shabanie since their best ever assembled squad of 2001 — featuring Max Ruza, Asani Juma, the late Thomas Makwasha, Gerald Phiri and Francis Chandida beat Dynamos 1-0 in the BP Cup final at the National Sports Stadium. The late Makwasha scored the priceless goal to deflate DeMbare, who were under David George with Mutasa and Callisto Pasuwa as players at the National Sports Stadium.

However, Mutasa has reached the BancABC final before in October 2009, when he was coach for the now defunct Shooting Stars. The Wild Boys lost 2-0 to Lengthens after extra time at Rufaro and now Mutasa will be praying to win the cup on his second attempt.
The former Warriors assistant coach is also hopeful that the final will be staged in the mining town of Zvishavane.

“I think it would make good sense to put the final in Zvishavane considering that two teams are from the town.
“The match will attract more people if it is played at Mandava and this will be good for the Zvishavane community and local football fans,” said Mutasa.