The Sunday News
Harare Bureau
FC Platinum ……………………………….… (0) 2
ZPC Kariba ……………………………………… 0
FC PLATINUM continued with their fine form with a clinical destruction of title chasing ZPC Kariba in an absorbing Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Second half goals from the fast developing Wisdom Mutasa and substitute Simon Shoko carried the day for the home side who exhibited a swift passing game but lacked precision in front of goal especially in the first half.
The result was greeted with cheers by the Dynamos camp as the champions have a chance of opening a five- point gap between them and the Premiership debutants with victory over struggling Chapungu at Rufaro this afternoon.
For ZPC Kariba the defeat dealt a heavy blow to their title ambitions and their coach Saul Chaminuka, who has always insisted that his charges are not fighting for the league title, conceded that a top of the log finish looked beyond them.
Chaminuka blamed the injury suffered by Elvis Meleka for his team’s defeat arguing that the midfield workhorse’s withdrawal at the end of the first half swung the midfield battle in favour of the home side.
“It’s a blow to us but we need to bounce back and ensure that we get at least a top four finish so that we get a chance to play in the Mbada Diamonds Cup,” he said.
“We started well but the injury to Meleka was a massive blow to us. We also badly missed Pride Tafirenyika in the middle of the park and I wouldn’t want to comment on the reasons why he was unavailable. After this defeat it’s clear that we have to relook at the way we approach the game in midfield.”
Tafirenyika was serving a one-match suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.
On the flip side the win saw FC Platinum take their points tally to 41 from 25 games.
Coach Norman Mapeza welcomed the result but was quick to note that his young side was yet to play at full throttle.
“It’s a welcome result, we played as a team. However, this result should not fool us because there is a lot of work that needs to be done and we will do it,” he said.
Teams
FC Platinum: P Mhari, R Muduviwa, E Moyo, G Bello, K Moyo, A Mukwenya, O Chirwa (N Ngoma 76 mins), T Dzumbunu, W Mutasa (S Shoko 75 mins), T Kamusoko, W Musona
ZPC Kariba: T Mateyaunga, O Mwerahari, E Mwinga, D Dauda, T Munyanduri, E Meleka (P Makanje 44 mins), T Gondo, T Rantokoane, T Nyamandwe, L Chikafa, P Muzondo.
