The Sunday News
Phineas Mukwazo in Zvishavane
FC Platinum …………………………………………. (1) 1
Young Africans …………………………………………… 0
CONTEMPLATIONS of FC Platinum performing a Houdini act against visiting Young Africans from Tanzania in an Orange Confederation Cup match at Mandava Stadium went up in smoke when the home side produced an uninspiring show from the first whistle here yesterday.
Prior to the match following the 1-5 humiliation at the hands of the same opponents away in Tanzania, FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza had looked to divine intervention for his youthful side to overturn that huge deficit. But it was evident from the home side’s lackadaisical, laid back approach that pointed to a snub from the heavenly authorities.
Evidently lacking was their impressive wing play, that will to shine, and simply, there was not even any hope that the platinum miners could have salvaged anything from yesterday’s game.
One could have been forgiven to think that both teams had nothing to lose yesterday. As much as the visitors had a casual approach to the game, FC Platinum had tonnes of that. Of course the visitors should get credit for toying around with the ball as they simply absorbed any timid pressure from the home side.
And the fact that Kugona Kunenge Kudada found the goal that made the difference yesterday 28 minutes into the match had all the tell tale effects of a lost cause. The all important goal came from their wonder kid Walter Musona who released a scorcher from close range. Musona’s effort hit the underside of the bar before ricocheting at the backside of a bemused Ally Mustafa Mtinge in goals for Yanga.
And yet there were some notable chances for the home side to increase their tally, but the gods appeared not to be on their side yesterday as Brian Muzondiwa and the hard running Donald Ngoma (twice) fluffed goal scoring opportunities, in a space of three minutes, to signal a disappointing end to a first half in which the home side could have laid a foundation for a fruitful second period.
Buoyed by a handful of their travelling supporters, who apparently outnumbered those of FC Platinum, Yanga held on until the end for a breakthrough that started in their home country, as the home side, just like they were in the first half, failed to threaten the survival of Yanga, a team that had in its ranks natives of Burundi, Congo and Rwanda.
But special mention should go to Zambian import Aaron Katebe, who had a good game in the heart of the home side’s defence. There were other useful players too such as substitute Marshall Mudehwe and Raymond Sibanda, who had a good game.
Absent from the home side’s starting line ups were the Moyo twins Elvis and Kelvin, who had a nightmarish outing against the same team in Tanzania, as well as national Under-23 captain Wisdom Mutasa.
After the match Mapeza said it was always going to be a tall order for his side to overturn the 5-1 loss they were handed away in Tanzania, although he praised his charges for “playing a good game”.
“I think we lost the game in Tanzania but I am glad we have been playing good football as a team and in football you lose some, win some and draw some, it is unfortunate we lost. Sometimes I feel there is too much pressure being piled on us by the media and it is making the job difficult. Yes there is always pressure in football but I think we can do with some sympathy,” he said.
Young Africans’ coach Hans van der Pluijm of Netherlands, expressed satisfaction with his team’s progression but lamented their failure to get a goal in yesterday’s match.
“We knew the game was going to be tough and although we prepared well for the match FC Platinum played well and made the game difficult for us.
“We played much better in the second half and I feel we should have scored because we created several chances but we failed to convert them,” said the 66-year-old Dutch native.
