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Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
FC Platinum 1-1 Harare City
FC Platinum won 3-1 after penaltiesNORMAN Mapeza won his second trophy as FC Platinum coach after dismissing Harare City through a penalty shoot-out in the Chibuku Super Cup final at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
The match had ended 1-1 in extra time.
With the win the platinum miners banked $75,000, winners’ medals and trophy as well as the right to represent the country in the Caf Confederation Cup competition next year.
Goalkeeper Petros Mhari was the hero for the Zvishavane side when he saved Osborne Mukuradare’s effort. FC Platinum scored their penalty kicks through teenage sensation Walter Musona, Kelvin Moyo and right back Raphael Muduviwa.
Timire Mamvura was the only Harare City player who managed to beat Mhari in the shoot-out.
Raymond Muchena had earlier on missed with goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu failing to beat his opposite number as his effort crashed against the upright with Mhari beaten.
Harare City will feel robbed after the equalizer by FC Platinum.
With just seconds before the end of the match the miners were awarded a free kick by controversial referee Norman Matemera. Thabani Kamusoko took the free kick and Musona slotted home in the resulting goalmouth melee. Matemera who was not very close to the action did not signal a goal but looked at his second assistant referee, Hwange based Abraham Manda who took some seconds before racing to the centre line indicating a goal.
The goal did not go down well with Harare City players and officials as they felt the match had already ended.
“This is daylight robbery. To say the honest truth we were robbed. These referees are killing the game. The fourth official had indicated four minutes of injury time and when the four minutes elapsed FC Platinum were handed a free kick from nowhere and they equalized.
“We could’ve won the game but my players were dejected. Their spirit was killed,” said Masimba Dinyero who refused to collect his loser’s medal although he went for the presentation.
He shook hands with a Delta official before going to the PSL boss Twine Phiri to vent his frustrations.
Harare City who played a passing game went into the lead through exciting forward Talent Chawapiwa. The hard working Franscesco Zekumbawire set through Chawapiwa in the 37th minute who released a screamer that Mhari never saw.
FC Platinum however could have opened the scoreline in the 19th minute through Obrey Chirwa but his effort hit the crossbar with goalkeeper Nyamupanedengu out of action following a free kick on the right from Kamusoko.
Four minutes after the breather Nyamupanedengu kept his team in the match when he tipped over the bar a free kick from Kamusoko.
FC Platinum kept on bombarding the Harare City goal and Warriors defender Elvis Moyo saw his effort saved by the Harare City goal minder in the 55th minute.
Substitute midfielder Simon Shoko nearly equalized in the 77th minute but his full bloodied shot was headed for a corner by defender Elvis Chivheya who was all tears after the match.
“God was on our side. We worked hard for this. When I came to FC Platinum I didn’t promise anything and I’m still moving on.
“I’m not yet satisfied and I still want more and now my target is the Mbada Diamonds Cup. I’m happy to have won the trophy and I dedicate it to the people who have been supporting me,” said an elated Mapeza.
Online Reporter