BY FORTUNE MBELE
BULAWAYO CITY . . . . (0) 1
DYNAMOS . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
FC Platinum are officially champions of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League for the fourth time in a row after Dynamos fell to Bulawayo City in an exciting game at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
The Zvishavane-based side now have an unassailable number of points following the Glamour Boys' defeat and Chicken Inn's goalless draw to Herentals on Friday in Harare.
FC Platinum needed a point in their match against CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon to seal a fourth consecutive league title going into the weekend.
They had their work cut out but their rivals decided to tap out of the league race by themselves.
Dynamos' fall gives Bulawayo City hope for survival in the top league as they were deserved winners against one of the giants of Zimbabwe football.
That victory was always coming for City, who dominated Dynamos for the better part of the game, with the visitors also having their time towards the end of the first half but in vain.
City are now on 30 points, gradually inching out of the relegation zone above Tenax and Harare City who have their games this afternoon.
Melikhaya Ncube converted from the spot seven minutes before full-time after referee of the day Mhaka Matare awarded a penalty after Frank Makarati handled inside the box under attack from the marauding City players.
City coach Farai Tawachera is hopeful and optimistic of surviving relegation.
"Dynamos is not an easy team to play with. We prepared well for them. Thanks to the boys although we missed two key players due to suspension. We had to shuffle. We are still hopeful. This result gives us some hope," Tawachera said.
Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya (pictured) was not pleased with his team's performance especially in the final third.
"It was a tale of two halves. We dominated the first half but we were not creative. We came back different in the second half but the opponents had a plan. They could have scored on three or four counter attacks. We did create our chances but ran out of ideas. We conceded a penalty but I'm not sure if it was a penalty but the referee made his decision. Overally we were not really ourselves. If we were supposed to win it, we should have done it in the first half," Ndiraya said.
Bulawayo City dictated pace from the start and in the 20th minute Dynamos goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa saved the visitors when Genius Mutungamiri fired a shot for the local authority side.
But Dynamos turned the tables as Emmanuel Paga's shot from outside the penalty box hit the cross-bar in the 26th minute and Junior Makunike's effort on the rebound found goalkeeper Reward Muza alert.
Three minutes later, Tinashe Makanda for Dynamos shot from a free-kick and narrowly missed the left upright.
Two minutes before the break King Nadolo for DeMbare engineered a speculative attempt from outside the penalty box, connecting from a cross on the right but Muza was equal to the task.
In the second half, action swung from one end to the other until City got that goal that gave them hope of another dance in the top league next season.
Teams
Bulawayo City: R Muza, M Bhebhe, L Sibanda, D Jaricha, L Lunga, M Ncube, W Ndiweni, G Mutungamiri, E Farasi (N Ndlovu 69'), C Machisi, (OTarumbwa 79'), I Makopa (D Dlodlo 69')
Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, P Jaure, K Nadolo, I Sadiki, E Paga, J Makunike, E Jalai, T Makanda, T Mavhunga (E Katema 85'), T Muringai, F Makarati