Zimpapers Sports Hub
FC PLATINUM spoiled champions Simba Bhora’s celebrations with a comfortable 2-0 win in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Wadzanai Stadium yesterday.
A goal either side of the break by Panashe Hilton Mutimbanyoka (3rd minute) and Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (85th minute) ensured FC Platinum completed a double over Simba Bhora this season after winning the reverse fixture 1-0 at Mandava.
Even more satisfying for the runners-up, FC Platinum became the first and will be the only team to beat Simba Bhora at Wadzanai as this was the champions’ final home game of the season while they will conclude the campaign away to ZPC Kariba in a fortnight.
Ngwenya, who was yellow-carded for excessive celebrations, also completed a double over Simba Bhora having scored the late winner at Mandava.
Despite the defeat, Simba Bhora players and coaches took time to salute their home fans in a somewhat subdued victory parade.
FC Platinum coach, Norman Mapeza was happy with the victory adding that the players had given the performance that has been consistent this season although they dropped points in some of their matches resulting in Simba Bhora beating them to the Premiership title.
“It was a very good game of football and this is what we have been doing all season even though in some matches the results did not go our way. We were very solid in terms of transition . . .”
He, however, could not be drawn into discussing the future after securing second place in the 2024 Premiership.
“I cannot talk of what I do not know about. Next year is two months away . . .” Man-of-the-match Ngwenya said he was confident of scoring against Simba Bhora.
“The league title is gone but I had to give it my best because you never know who is watching you. I was confident of scoring because I scored against them in the reverse fixture.”
Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya said they will look at the bigger picture of winning the title despite the disappointing ending to a historic campaign.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult game against a team that still needed to secure second place while our boys were still celebrating. We won the league away at Arenel and the players have been celebrating since then.
“Even when we made our way to the stadium the players were still celebrating. It is disappointing that we could not finish with an unbeaten record at our home ground but we will focus on the bigger picture of winning the title.
“I want to give credit to the management for their contribution to the success of the team.”
At the Baobab Stadium, former champions Ngezi Platinum hammered Herentals 4-0 to move into third place on the Premiership standings.
Ngezi Platinum still have to play Dynamos and CAPS United to conclude the season and yesterday’s victory was crucial as they seek to withstand pressure from Manica Diamonds for third place.
Goals from Obriel Chirinda (brace) and Tinotenda Meke gave Ngezi Platinum a 3-0 lead at the break before Tanaka Munemo sealed the rout with an 88th minute goal.
At Luveve, on an afternoon that Bikita Minerals looked to the sky hoping for a miracle and a positive result from the football gods to boost their relegation chance, Chicken Inn were in no mood to give away three points. Instead, Chicken Inn cruised to a 3-0 win.
The result meant Bikita Minerals remain fourth from bottom of the PSL log and will now need more than a miracle to survive relegation on the last day of the season.
Bikita Minerals face another relegation threatened candidate Hwange on their last assignment. Chicken Inn went in front 20 minutes into the game courtesy of Brighton Makopa’s clinical finish after he capitalised on a rebound opportunity after a goal mouth scramble.
He fired from close range after Elshamar Farasi’s initial shot rebounded off the upright. The GameCocks extended their lead in the 63rd minute through the boots of Genius Mutungamiri who slotted home from close range.
Irvine Mukombwe’s exquisite through-ball split the Bikita Minerals defence, allowing Mutungamiri to capitalise on the glorious chance.
Michael Charamba made it three for Chicken Inn with a brilliantly taken free-kick from just outside the box, three minutes before full-time. Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas was pleased with the victory.
“I thought the boys did well. It was a good performance. We wanted to win our last game of the season at home and we did just that,” said Antipas.
The long travel from Bikita and the hopes of a win eluded the mineral miners and coach Arnold Jani’s sentiments after the game in a post match interview said it all.
“We came here wanting a win but we had a poor start. We had some of our players suspended for this game and it worked against us.”
In a rather bizarre admission of an administrative error on the part of the visitors, the coach admitted that the team only discovered that two of their players, who were already in the travelling party, where in fact suspended and would not take part in the match in Bulawayo.
