malvernmugadzikwa
Ricky Zililo in BULAWAYO
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
DESPITE the pre-match hype, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter between Dynamos and champions FC Platinum failed to live up to its billing, as it fizzled into a drab affair at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
So much had been expected from the two sides, who went into the clash following their respective back-to-back wins.
Being Dynamos’ first home game in Bulawayo, so much had been expected from the Harare giants, who showed some class when they flew into the City of Kings in the morning, but this was not matched by the show they put on in the afternoon.
Just like Dynamos, FC Platinum, who are on a resurgence after a slow start to the season, were also expected to put up a good show.
But, alas, the two sides connived to dish out boring performances that even the Zvishavane platinum miners’ coach Norman Mapeza conceded had short-changed fans.
The draw left FC Platinum third on the table, tied on 25 points with second-placed Highlanders, who host Triangle United at the same venue this afternoon.
Despite being disappointed with the performance, Mapeza was still content with the point the champions gained on the road.
The point also helped DeMbare climb one place up the ladder into fourth.
The Harare giants are now tied on 22 points with Manica Diamonds, who have a date with struggling debutants Simba Bhora at Baobab Stadium this afternoon.
“We didn’t play well; that’s my assessment,’’ Mapeza said.
“There were certain moments where I thought we would do better, but we didn’t. I don’t know if people who came to watch football enjoyed, but for me, I am talking about FC Platinum, we didn’t do well.
“Poor decision-making in the final third, no shot on target in the first 45 minutes, and, on our part, we get worried when that happens.
“I will be honest, we were not ourselves today even on set pieces, I don’t know why the boys were rushing, hitting the ball on the wall.
“We could have gotten something from the set pieces but we never forced a save from the Dynamos goalkeeper (Prince Tafiremutsa).”
Mapeza will, no doubt, be demanding a response from his charges in their next assignment at their beloved Mandava.
“We just have to keep on working hard, it wasn’t a bad point but in terms of performance, it wasn’t our best,” he said.
Dynamos coach Hebert Maruwa was happy with the point.
He felt that, with a bit of luck in the second half, they could have won the match.
“It was a very difficult game, especially in the first half. In the second half, we regrouped, we made some substitutions and we could have got a goal, and I am happy with the way supporters came to the stadium,’’ he said.
He made a triple substitution early into the second period and brought in fan favourite Denver Mukamba, Elton Chikona and Arthur Musiyiwa.
“In the second half, we managed to penetrate their defenders compared to the first half when we sat at the back as we wanted to catch them on counter-attacks,” Maruwa added.
Although the stadium was not full, as some of the football neutrals were across town for the Bulawayo Chiefs match against CAPS United, which the hosts won 2-1, DeMbare fans filled the Mpilo End and occasionally burst into song and dance.
With both sets of goalkeepers rarely troubled in the match, which saw the two teams playing the ball more in central midfield. The first attempt at goal came in the 30th minute, and it was a weak shot by FC Platinum’s Juan Mutudza.
Dynamos supporters were excited when Mukamba came in the 56th minute.
FC Platinum’s veteran defender Gift Bello took one for the team when he got a yellow card for fouling Tanaka Shandirwa as he was charging at goal in a counter-attack in the 72nd minute.
The platinum miners almost silenced the DeMbare faithful through 90th-minute substitute Jarrison Selemani, whose snap shot agonisingly missed the target.
Teams:
Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Shadreck Nyahwa (Elvis Moyo, 68th minute), Kevin Moyo, Donald Dzvinyai, Junior Makunike, Emmanuel Ziocha (Denver Mukamba, 56th minute), Donald Mudadi (Arthur Musiyiwa, 56th minute), Tanaka Shandirwa, Keith Madera (Emmanuel Paga, 84th minute), Tinashe Makanda (Elton Chikona, 56th minute)
FC Platinum: Wallace Magalane, Gift Mbweti, Kelvin Mangiza, Gift Bello, More Chinyerere, Rainsome Pavari, Juan Mutudza, Brian Banda, Panashe Mutimbanyoka (Jarrison Selemani, 90th minute), Walter Musona, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (Perfect Chikwende, 81st minute)
Results:
Bulawayo Chiefs 2-1 Caps United
Dynamos 0-0 FC Platinum
Yadah 0-2 Black Rhinos
Cranborne Bullets 0-2 Herentals
Fixtures:
Highlanders v Triangle United (Barbourfields), Green Fuel v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Hwange v ZPC Kariba (Colliery), Sheasham v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Bata), Simba Bhora v Manica Diamonds (Baobab)
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter