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From Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
FC Platinum (2)6
Caps United (0)0
ZAMBIAN import Obrey Chirwa proved too hot to handle, scoring a hat trick as FC Platinum won the ZNA Charity Shield at Mandava yesterday.
Chirwa struck in the first, 45th and 85th minutes as the home side ran riot against a Caps United outfit that finished the tie with seven men.
The Makepekepe trio of David Chipala, George Nyirenda and Hardlife Zvirekwi were all shown red cards by referee Rugare Kusosa.
Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro felt Kusosa killed the tie.
“I will not say anything about the match officials and all I can do is apologise to the Caps United family.
“What happened here was a disgrace to Zimbabwean football,” he said.
Chipala and Zvirekwi were sent off for abusive language towards the referee while Nyirenda went for an early shower after a second bookable offence.
So incensed was Mangwiro that at one time he stormed the pitch to express his disgust at the way Kusosa was handling the game.
Away from the red card madness, Chirwa gave FC Platinum the perfect start when he latched on to a Benjamin Marere pass before shooting beyond the reach of a diving Jorum Muchambo.
The Zambian returned to haunt Muchambo when he outpaced the Makepekepe defence to finish off a Tatenda Dzumbunu pass on 45 minutes.
Chirwa completed his hatrick in the 85th minute but not before Nyirenda had scored an own goal, Tarisai Rukanda beat Muchambo and Walter Musona stabbed home.
Rukanda’s goal was special as it came on his 28th birthday.
“It feels good to score on your special day, hopefully this goal will open the floodgates for me and the team,” said the lanky striker.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza was thrilled after his team’s performance.
“I am happy to lift my first silverware with FC Platinum,” he said.
“It’s rather unfortunate that some guys from the opposition team were sent off. My boys did well but we must concede that the sending off of the Caps United players took away the competitive edge from the game,” he said.
While Makepekepe could have some reason to blame Kusosa the fact that all is not well in their camp cannot be ignored.
Reports last week indicated that the Caps United players almost boycotted the midweek trip to Bantu Rovers in protest over the nonpayment of bonuses.
The disturbances took place when club president Twine Phiri was away in Botswana and the Green Machine faithful will be hoping that his return will signal the return of normalcy to their camp.
FC Platinum: P Mhari, R Muduviwa,K Moyo, E Moyo,G Bello, J Marufu, W
Mutasa,T Dzumbunu(S Shoko 65th ),B Marere(W Musona 54th ),T Rukanda (N
Maziwisa 78th ),O Chirwa
Caps United: J Muchambo, T Kumbuyani,G Nyirenda,S Makatuka,D Chipala,D
Mukandi,G Mangani(H Zvirekwi 55th ),G Phiri(A Phiri 65th ),K Sibanda(T
Samanja 46th ),I Thindwa,D Chungwa.
Online Reporter