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half goals to subdue a battling Hwange and lift the Bob’88 Super Cup at Rufaro yesterday.
Kugona Kunenge Kudada, making their first final appearance since gaining promotion last year, made the bold statement with goals from Mitchell Katsvairo, soon after the restart, and Allan Gahadzikwa who struck five minutes from time.
FC Platinum have now scored six goals in two competitive matches in a week after an impressive 4-2 win over Green Mamba in a Champions League tie in Swaziland last Sunday. Yesterday’s win, though, came at a cost for FC Platinum.
The platinum miners lost goal-scorer Gahadzikwa and key striker Donald Ngoma who both limped off the pitch after picking up knocks.
Besides the injury worries, it was all song and dance as captain Zephaniah Ngodzo received the trophy from President Mugabe who was guest of honour on the afternoon. But it will be a long journey back home for fellow miners Hwange who were made to pay dearly for their costly mistakes at the back on both occasions.
Hwange, who enjoyed the sympathy of the majority of the Dynamos fans who view them as a better devil compared to FC Platinum, had done well to repel their opponents. Dynamos had earlier lost the third place-play off to Motor Action who won 1-0 through Isaac Madziva’s 55th minute solitary strike.
Hwange, despite the warm support, never troubled their opponents going forward.
FC Platinum could have taken their lead on the half hour mark but goalkeeper Petros Mhari produced a stunning double save in a space of two minutes.
Former Gunners winger Ali Sadiki, who was outstanding on the afternoon, forced the best out of the Hwange goalkeeper from a free-kick just outside the penalty box. Mhari was on hand to deny FC Platinum when he tipped over the bar a dangerous header by Gahadzikwa who had jumped high to connect a cross from Sadiki.
But after holding on for the first 45 minutes, Chipangano virtually gifted their opponents a goal from nothing following a defensive mix-up between defender David Boriwondo and goalkeeper Mhari in the 53rd minute.
Boriwondo seemed to have done well to ward off Katsvairo inside the penalty area but Mhari somehow hesitated and came off the line late as the FC Pla tinum striker nipped the ball home from behind the defender to give his side the lead. From then on the platinum miners piled the pressure and Joel Ngodzo tried his luck from distance in the 58th minute but his shot was punched back into play by the goalkeeper.
Hwange midfielder Nkosana Siwela could have pulled a face saver in added time when he found himself unmarked inside the box but he took too long to pull the trigger and allowed Zephaniah Ngodzo recover.
FC Platinum were the more dominant side and it was only fitting that they were decorated with their first silverware in the Premiership by winning the pre-season trophy.
Assistant coach Tendai Chikuni, who was holding fort in the absence of Rahman Gumbo, said the platinum miners, who narrowly missed the championship last season, are aiming high this year.
“We didn’t play very well in the first half probably because the players could not get enough time to warm-up before the game,” said Chikuni.
“But we came back stronger in the second period.
“We knew Hwange very well and that is why we tried to suffocate them in the midfield.
“We need to win each and every trophy on offer this year and we have prepared hard for it.”
Hwange, who knocked out defending champions Dynamos in the semi-finals, were made to pay dearly for the defensive errors.
Coach Tennant Chilumba said they were punished for their defensive errors.
“If you concede silly goals in football I don’t think you can win the match. Otherwise it was a learning curve for the boys.
“They also wanted to win the game and they put in 100 percent.
“It’s unfortunate mistakes do happen,” said Chilumba.
The Bob Super Cup was inaugurated last year with two teams –Dynamos and CAPS United – playing in the final as part of the commemorations for the President’s birthday celebrations but this year it featured four teams.

FC Platinum – T. Dube, Z. Ngodzo, Q. Amini, D. Veremu, G. Banda, C. Kamhapa, J. Ngodzo, A. Sadiki, A. Gahadzikwa (T. Kamusoko, 90+4 minutes), W. Ndiweni (R. Nenzou, 65th minute), D. Ngoma (M. Katsvairo, 37th minute)
Hwange – P. Mhari, E. Chipeta, M. Mungadze, D. Boriwondo, A. Katebe, K. Chipere (O. Mpofu, 82nd minute), F. Vimisayi (W. Mhango, 67th minute), R. Chinyengetere, G. Zulu (T. Mamina, 67th minute), F. Zvekumbawire, N. Siwela