adminFrom Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange……………………………………………….0
FC Platinum……………………………………(0)1Thabani Kamusoko struck a brilliant volley as FC Platinum gained a measure of revenge over Hwange in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at the Colliery yesterday.
Kamusoko scored the goal that made all the difference on the hour mark. With the second half promising to pass without any major talking point like the opening phase, it was Joel Ngodzo who had other ideas on the edge of the box as he laid on a fine pass for the onrushing Kamusoko, who obliged by unleashing a cracker which flew past a diving Takabva Mawaya before nestling into the top left corner.
The coalminers were never really into the game as they failed to exhibit the same fluency and determination that saw them wallop Monomotapa 3-0 in the capital before the Premiership took a long break due to national team commitments and the BancABC Sup8r tournament.
Hwange coach Nation Dube attributed his team’s below par performance to the three-week break.
“This period disturbed my team’s performance as it was clear they had rust from the first whistle. What made the situation worse is that the Division One league is fully running hence we could not have any friendly matches during this period of inactivity, something which is not the case with FC Platinum, who were involved in a cup tournament.
“We will ,however, work hard to pick ourselves up in the next assignments,” Dube said.
While his opposite number was fuming, FC Platinum gaffer Lloyd Mutasa was on cloud nine as he gave the post-match interview.
“I am very happy with a victory made sweeter by the fact that we have salvaged revenge on Hwange, who beat us at home in May by the same margin. We utilised the chance we created and it will go a long way to boost the confidence of the young lads especially with such away wins,” Mutasa said.
The home side started the game with their tails up as they threatened to overrun the platinum miners early into the game.
Just after two minutes, veteran striker Gilbert Zulu cleverly flicked the ball on to the path of young Oscar Lungu, who disappointed with a hurried effort which zoomed way over the bar.
After five minutes, defender Munyaradzi Mungadze got another chance to draw first blood but his curling free-kick just missed the left upright with the fans already up and ready to celebrate.
Sensing danger, the visitors then lifted their game and started knitting together some lovely passes revolving around overlapping leftback Raymond Sibanda, Raphael Muduviwa and Nelson Mazivisa but the last pass proved to be their letdown.
As the opening half wore on, both teams went to sleep and left the fans yawing with some uninspiring football.
Dube must have read the riot act to his lads during half time as his boys came back from the breather playing with a lot of purpose only to find twin centrebacks Aaron Katebe and Daniel Vheremu in no mood for favours.
With Hwange pressing forward for an opener, Kamusoko struck on the hour mark to leave the home fans speechless and deflated. All other attempts by the visitors to put the game out of sight were thwarted by some resolute defending by the evergreen defender David Boriwondo.
On the stroke of full time, the usually reliable Mazivisa missed a golden chance to double his side’s advantage when he missed the target from close range after a lovely combination by the lanky Donald Ngoma and substitute Obrey Chirwa.
Teams:
Hwange: T Mawaya; M Mpofu; M Mungadze; G Ndlovu; D Boriwondo; A Tshuma; R Jongwe (T Chese 59th min); O Lungu; G Zulu; E Rusike (N Siwela 73rd min); F Vimisai (P Mpelele 62nd min)
FC Platinum: F Tizayi; D Vheremu; A Katebe; T Kamusoko; R Sibanda (E Moyo 61st min);R Muduviwa; W Mhango; W Ndiweni (T Mudehwe 51st min);N Maziwisa; D Ngoma; J Ngodzo (O Chirwa 70th min).
Online Reporter