adminAMBITIOUS FC Platinum maintained their flying start to the season when they brought debutants How Mine down to earth in emphatic style at Mandava yesterday.
FC Platinum, runners-up in their debut season in 2011 shot to the top of the battle as yesterday’s win became their second in as many games in the 2013 Castle lager Premiership campaign.
Returning striker Nelson Maziwisa grabbed a brace while Charles Sibanda from the penalty spot and Ali Sadiki handed FC Platinum their big victory. Former FC Platinum midfielder Menard Mupera pulled one back for the visitors from the spot.
Despite their big win, FC Platinum started the game cautiously maybe because their opponents fielded a team that had the bulk of players who were on their books last season.
They soon had their nerves settled when Sibanda struck a 13th minute penalty after Winston Mhango had been upended in the box by veteran defender Herbert Dick.
Eight minutes later Sadiki made it 2-0 when he curled his corner straight into the nets beating Pedzisai Gumiremhete with his left footer.
The visitors then came back into the game in the 28th minute , albeit briefly when Thabani Kamusoko handled in the box in a bid to clear.
Mupera one of the penalty specialists in the country sent impressive Petros Mhari the wrong way and the goal injected a bit of life in the How Mine camp.
But that was only before reigning Premiership Golden Boot award winner Maziwisa, recalled from Shabanie Mine, stepped up to justify the faith shown in him by coach Tennant Chilumba. A trademark free-kick from the dreadlocked Kamusoko was saved by Gumhiremhete but the goalkeeper’s effort crashed against the bar and rebounded back into play and Maziwisa reacted faster than the How Mine defenders to score.
Maziwisa was to complete his brace in the 70th minute when he did justice to the Sibanda pass.
Sibanda roasted his marker on the right and generously fed Maziwisa whose shot in the box went past a badly exposed Gumhiremhete.
How Mine were fielding Khumbulani Banda, Gilbert Banda, Mupera, Thandazani Ndlovu and Simon Njeleza all former Platinum players but they were never a menace to the hosts. Daniel Veremu on the other end marshalled the hosts defence and made a crucial save when he cleared from the line in the 53rd minute.
How Mine coach described the loss as a “very bad result’’.
“It was a very bad result but as I have said earlier on we are fighting relegation. I will do everything in my power to achieve that but I am very proud for my players.
Online Reporter