By Terry Madyauta
FC PLATINUM….. (3)6
TENAX…………….. (1) 1
FC Platinum young stars put up a scintillating performance on their debut in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, thrashing newsboys Tenax 6-1 at Mandava Stadium, to set an early marker in their title defence.
The 19-year-old duo of Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and Oscar Bhebhe were a shining beacon for the three-time champions, with the former notching a brace while the latter scored once.
Brian Banda, Donald Teguru and Innocent Mucheneka scored the other goals for the Zvishavane side while Farai Mugumwa scored Tenax’s consolation goal.
“It’s a good result, everyone gave a good account of themselves including Tenax, I credit them. It’s a good start for us,” coach Norman Mapeza said.
“At the end of this day, I applaud the good combinations from the youngsters who I gave a chance to play today.
“I think as a club we are going in the right direction as long as we are going to give these youngsters an opportunity to play.
“I will keep giving them a chance if they play this way because that is good for the future of the club.
His counterpart Shardreck Magurasave conceded defeat, saying his men lost to a stronger opponent.
“We lost to the Champions, they were good and better than us throughout the match,” he said.
“As we go back, we are taking lessons which we hope will be helpful ahead of the next matches.”
That Tenax arrived late at the match venue was perhaps an indication that they are disorganised and they were duly punished.
They were only given 10 minutes to warm up before being put to the guillotine by the platinum miners.
Ngwenya opened the score-sheet after 15 minutes, with a goal that was engineered by Gift Mbweti who beat the Tenax’s offside trap before picking the former whose sublime strike beat goalie Phillip Makumi.
Ten minutes later Ngwenya turned from scorer to provide, after providing Donald Teguru with delightful pass which he collected with aplomb inside the box before darting a low shot past the hapless Tenax keeper.
Tenax, though showed a little more intent after Teguru’s goal, with Farai Mugumwa pulling one back for the prison wardens on the 33 minute, from a neatly taken free-kick just outside the box.
However, the platinum miners rubs more salt into their wounds, as Innocent Mucheneka added his name on the score-sheet, with a first time shot from a Panashe Mutimbanyoka pin-point cross.
Former Highlanders midfielder Brian Banda benefitted from a neat build up that involved Panashe Mutimbanyoka and Innocent Mucheneka, to slot home on the 55th minute.
The Platinum miners continued running rings on their opponents, and Ngwenya scored his second goal of the day, connecting a rebounded Donald Teguru shot.
Bhebhe, who was introduced as a second half substitute, also gave a good account of themselves, scoring FC Platinum’s sixth goal from a penalty on the 85th minute.