HOW MINE . . . . . . . . . . .0 FC PLATINUM . . . . . (2) 3
BY THANDIWE MOYO
FC PLATINUM completed a double over How Mine to maintain pressure on log leaders Chicken Inn in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League while piling more misery on the gold miners at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The Norman Mapeza-coached side has gone 14 matches unbeaten with four of those being draws and they are five points behind log leaders Chicken Inn.
How Mine, on the other hand, have gone seven matches without a win, pushing them one place down the standings to seventh place after Caps United beat Hwange at the Colliery.
Platinum got their goals in the 10th minute from Brian Muzondiwa, Obrey Chirwa in the 14th minute and an own goal by Tapiwa Kumbuyani in the 65th minute.
The visitors scored their first goal after Chirwa’s cross found Elvis Moyo inside the box who sent a pass to Muzondiwa with defender Moses Gutu failing to clear the shot off the line.
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In the 14th minute, Marshall Tatenda Mudehwe was released on the right flank by Gerald Takwara and he cut inside before feeding Tatenda Dzumbunu who released Chirwa and the Zambian struck from close range.
In the 17th minute, Mudehwe shot wide after another fantastic build-up by the visitors.
Kumbuyani turned villain after the breather when he shot past his goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya in the 65th minute in an effort to clear a Mudehwe cross following a drop ball by referee Bonamali Bwanali.
Mapeza said he was happy with his players’ performance.
“We came here looking for a positive result and I am very happy for the boys. The second half was a bit difficult, but we managed to hold them,” he said.
At some point, Mapeza was said to be facing dismissal over a string of poor results, but he said: “There is a time when you go through a bad spell, but you do not have to despair. It happens. You have to push on. I heard the rumours in the Press, but I had no problem with management and supporters.”
He still maintained that God knew their destiny when questioned on the team’s championship quest.
How Mine coach Luke Masomere, who seemed dejected after the loss, conceded his side had not played well.
“The two early goals destabilised our game plan and we attribute it to injuries. If you look at our central defence, it’s just a matter of changing week in, week out, trying to come up with a winning formula, but it’s not working,” Masomere said.
“We have to make sure we get organised in our next game when we play the Chibuku Super Cup game against ZPC Kariba. Platinum were very quick in the first few minutes of the game. They were faster than my players. My midfield played second fiddle. We played a better team today,” he said.
Masomere added that age was also catching up with some of his players who took on the youthful FC Platinum side.
“A bit of age is also affecting negatively in the team. Age is catching up with my players. As a club, we erred when we got players who are almost reaching their peak. Apart from that, we have to soldier on and make sure we win our next game,” he said.
Teams How Mine: M Diya, T Kumbuyani, M Gutu (T Masuku 30th minute), N Ndale (G Nguwodzawo 53rd minute), N Tachi, M Mupera, T January, W Sithole, K Musharu (T Muparati 80th minute), M Kadzola, B Marere
FC Platinum: P Mhari, I Nekati, G Bello, K Moyo, E Moyo, W Mhango, G Takwara, T Dzumbunu (S Shoko 63rd minute), M Mudehwe, B Muzondiwa (R Sibanda 69th minute) , O Chirwa (S Sibanda 90+ minutes)
