PSL battle still on: Murape

on despite their crucial win over FC Platinum at Mandava on Sunday.
The Harare giants cruised to the top of the table following their 1-0 victory, courtesy of an own goal by FC Platinum defender Daniel Veremu, midway through the second half of this tense encounter.
The three points gave DeMbare control of the championship destiny as they dislodged the Moneybags and they now lead the log table because of a superior goal difference.
Murape now believes the title is theirs to lose after staging a dramatic comeback in a season that they had played second fiddle to Motor Action and FC Platinum who dictated the pace for the better part of the campaign.
“This was a great win. It came at the most crucial time when the league is now at its final stages. But as much as we have managed to attain our goal by winning at FC Platinum, the job is far from over,” said Murape.
“Of course we had placed so much emphasis on winning at Mandava because of the obvious importance of this game but, I think, this week’s match against Kiglon is the most important assignment we can think of at the moment.
“As things stand, we are not champions yet and we can only be confirmed if we beat Kiglon.
“So we have to remain focused and avoid getting carried away by excitement. In fact, if there was a time we needed to work extra hard it’s this week,” said Murape.
FC Platinum were so stunned by the result that they did not want to talk about it. Coach Rahman Gumbo, who looked dumbfounded, refused to grant a post match interview after realising the complex situation they now find themselves in.
The teams are now level on 55 points from 29 games but Dynamos assume pole position because they have a healthier goal difference of +25 compared to FC Platinum’s +21.
FC Platinum have scored 41 and conceded 20 while Dynamos have 40 against 15.
FC Platinum will pray that DeMbare falter, which is highly unlikely, and they win their match against Shooting Stars by any margin to be the new champions.
In the event that DeMbare beat Kiglon by a one-goal margin, it means FC Platinum will have to win by at least five clear goals.
If that happens then the aggregate goal difference will be level and FC Platinum wins the title because they scored more goals than Dynamos.
But the bigger the victory margin for DeMbare against Kiglon, the more goals FC Platinum have to score in the other game.
The Moneybags were in a very comfortable position in the last month but they virtually surrendered their destiny to DeMbare with Sunday’s setback.
FC Platinum secretary Phillimon Muvengwa yesterday said they were not yet ready to comment on the defeat, which left them stunned after their hopes of being crowned champions in their debut season were dashed.
The Zvishavane platinum miners could have been endorsed as the new Premiership kings with a victory over Dynamos. They were on the verge of making history and they could have done that in front of dignitaries like Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, who hails from the Midlands Province, and local chiefs who were also invited. But it now looks like DeMbare have all the aces.
Murape said they are now looking forward to finish the three-year drought by winning the championship. DeMbare last won the league in 2007 under David Mandigora and have been runners up to Monomotapa, Gunners and Motor Action in the three seasons that followed.
“This was a message to FC Platinum that money doesn’t buy you success. They invested a lot this season.
“They are still new in the league and probably they thought if you splash around money then things will automatically come into place. At least they now know that there is a big team called Dynamos.
“We have always believed in ourselves from the start despite the challenges we faced. Of course we had our problems ranging from discipline, playing to the gallery at the expense of team results and of course financial difficulties but we sat down as a team, discussed everything and agreed that we should be serious if we want the championship.
“Now here we are. We are closer to the dream and I believe we can do it. I think we have very good youngsters who can go far with a little bit of help. This team is full of talent,” said Murape.
The diminutive Dynamos midfielder said they had banked on victory over FC Platinum to rekindle their hopes this season.
It’s a game that both sides had been waiting for with great anticipation and the small mining town suddenly burst into life at the weekend following the invasion by the “Blue Army.”
This will go down in history as probably the biggest crowd witnessed at Mandava stadium.
It was not easy to find open spaces as people filled all the gaps in the terraces and around the security fence, which nearly collapsed on the bays where Dynamos supporters were sitting. There was also a near tragedy when a toilet roof – where some supporters had found a haven – collapsed, but no injuries were reported.
The encounter had nothing short in excitement with the 7 000 capacity Mandava stadium, which underwent renovations recently, full to the brim moments before the match.
The atmosphere was already charged by kick-off time with a dose of mind-games from both teams.
The stage had already been set when a man clad in FC Platinum regalia got into the pitch to plant something believed to be juju at the centre. Dynamos responded quickly to the ‘juju’ move when some of their marshals scaled the gate leading into the pitch and removed the object before sprinkling the pitch with salt and water, much to the delight of the multitude of their fans.
FC Platinum had locked the gate just before the players came on for their warm-up and Dynamos goalkeeper Washington Arubi and assistant coach Tichaona Diya were helped over the gate to get access to the pitch.
When the teams finally came out, FC Platinum players were pelted by missiles when they got to the side where Dynamos fans were housed and the home fans retaliated when Dynamos players approached their side. The tension could be felt as the game progressed.