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Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
FC Platinum ……. (2) 2
Chapungu …………… 0
NORMAN Mapeza silenced John Nyikadzino in the Midlands derby when his 10-man team collected maximum points in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Mandava yesterday. FC Platinum defender Ian Nekati was having a good game on the right before he was shown an upheld red card by Bulawayo referee Philani Ncube for a dangerous tackle on Chapungu defender Liberty Khim.
The decision, however, seemed a bit harsh on the player who spent the whole of last season on the sidelines.
It was the sixth time both sides had met. In 2013 with FC Platinum under Tenant Chilumba drew nil all in both legs against Chapungu and it was the same story in 2014 under Lloyd Mutasa.
Last week Mapeza managed to collect a point at Ascot with his strikers firing blanks but yesterday he managed to collect maximum points and his team did it in style with a strike from Brian Muzondiwa 22nd minute and Allan Gahadzikwa 24th.
Platinum has now amassed 25 points from 16 games and now occupy the 5th position while Chapungu has 22 points from the same number of games.
Platinum were thrust into the lead by Muzondiwa.
Bulawayo referee Ncube who had one of the best games at Mandava awarded a free kick to the hosts at the edge of the box.
Raymond Sibanda powered a shot that Mazingi found too hot to handle only for Muzondiwa to place the ball into the nets from the rebound with the Chapungu defence nowhere in sight.
Before Chapungu knew what had hit them Marshall Mudehwe who was causing all sorts of problems to the visitors left his marker for dead on the left, before Gahadzikwa.
The former Motor Action midfielder let go a scorcher outside the box that Mazingi never saw.
“I am very happy with the match officials, they had a good show this afternoon. We lost the plot in the first half when my goalkeeper Roy (Mazingi) and midfielder Marvellous (Dikinya) were injured.
“I am worried with my strikers and since the window has opened I have to get one or two players to beef up the team,” said Nyikadzino.
His counterpart Mapeza said: “We need to keep on collecting points and I am happy that when we went for the break we were not far from the leading pack. I am proud of the boys because they worked so hard after losing Nekati (Ian). We need to keep on working hard, stay positive and take each game as it comes. I am proud of the boys. It was unfortunate that we could not score more goals.”
Online Reporter