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From Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
FC Platinum……………………………………………….. (1) 2
Monomotapa……………………………………………………. 0FC PLATINUM kept their title aspirations within shouting distance after they posted yet another victory over visiting Monomotapa in a Castle Lager Premiership match played at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
The platinum miners got their all important goals from former Dynamos and Hwange midfielder Winston Mhango in the 14th minute and Mitchelle Katsvairo in the 49th minute.
The win saw FC Platinum completing a double and a draw over the Harare team. In three meetings this year Monomotapa drew one-all in Harare in a league match with the miners. The team was then knocked 3-1 out of the prestigious BancABC Sup8r Cup in a semi-final played at Barbourfields Stadium two weeks ago before the defeat yesterday.
Despite the win FC Platinum risk being fined by the Premiership as some of their players namely Raphael Muduviwa, Welcome Ndiweni and Donald Ngoma were putting on jerseys that did not have the logo of the official sponsor.
Japhet Mfiri who was the match commissioner threatened this reporter if he wrote about the logo issue. FC Platinum who seemed to be in control of the midfield won possession through Charles Sibanda on the left in the 14th minute. The dreadlocked striker then spotted the vastly improved Mudhuviwa who powered a shot towards goal but his shot was blocked onto the path of Mhango who was lurking outside the box and responded with a stinger that beat Monoz goalkeeper Jonathan Zvaita all systems out.
Ronald Chitiyo who won the hearts of many neutrals with his dribbling skills could have equalised for the visitors in the 21st minute from a Nelson Melson pass but with only Petros Mhari to beat he shot wide.
Monomotapa kept on adding pressure to the platinum miners and they sent another chance begging in the 37th minute. Chitiyo who was in the thick of things in midfield sent a defence splitting pass to Agrippa Murimba but he directed his effort to the terraces with Mhari already a beaten man.
The Harare team who are in the relegation zone were then punished for the misses in the 49th minute. Former Gunners striker Katsvairo who was no longer commanding a first team jersey showed that he still posseses the qualities of a lethal striker. Sibanda who had a good afternoon won the ball on the right and sent a long pass to Katsvairo who was on the left who then raced towards Monoz goal with Praise Tonha in hot persuit.
He unleashed a powerful shot that Zvaita only managed to collect from the back of the nets. Monomotapa head coach Biggie Zuze was not a happy man after the final whistle. He blamed the loss on referee Thabani Bamala and his assistant.
“You cannot win games with such match officials. The truth is we are failing to win games and I am appealing to the referees to officiate fairly”
“The defeat was not good enough to us and it seems it is now a norm. It is always difficult to get maximum points if you fail to convert chances. Platinum struggled with their game but scored two goals from the few chances they got and we are disappointed to lose after playing well and our position on the log is not good as well,” he said
His counterpart Lloyd Mutasa was in high spirits.
Teams
FC Platinum: P Mhari, D Veremu, E Moyo, R Muduviwa, T Kamusoko, A Katebe, W Mhango (J Ngodzo 61st minute), W Ndiweni, N Maziwisa (M Katsvairo 38th minute), D Ngoma (M Mudehwe 48th minute), C Sibanda,
Monomotapa: J Zvaita, A Murimba, (A Tavariswa 46th minute), M Mungombe, C Rukwanhi, I Wadi (G Murwira 75th minute), Z Biseki, P Tonha, L Sithole, H Mugoniwa, N Melson, R Chitiyo
Online Reporter