Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE was heartbreak for the GreenFuel camp at their Chisumbanje hunting ground when they fell to a proverbial sucker punch against FC Platinum in a lively Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter in which the hosts failed to make their dominance count.
FC Platinum pulled off a classic smash-and-grab at the GreenFuel Arena, edging their wasteful hosts in a match clouded by erratic officiating and a gut punch of a finish.
Substitute Jarrison Selemani struck a superb stoppage time free-kick to hand the Zvishavane miners a victory they barely deserved.
At Baobab, Ngezi Platinum Stars halted TelOne’s purple patch with a 2-1 scoreline that keeps the 2023 champions still very much in the title matrix.
However, the result in Chisumbanje left the hosts and their fans seething, not just over missed chances, especially in the first half in which Harrsion Masina was the lead culprit.
They also felt hard done by poor handling of the game by Harare referee Rusununguko Mutero, which did not help their cause, as the match official spent all afternoon making a string of questionable decisions.
GreenFuel, who bossed the match from the first whistle, walked away with nothing.
They created chance after chance but could not beat former teammate David Bizabani, who was a last-minute inclusion in FC Platinum’s line-up after regular goalkeeper Wallace Magalane failed a late fitness test.
Bizabani returned to haunt his former club with a stunning performance between the posts, denying Rodwell Chinyengetere from point-blank range after a brilliant Ronald Chitiyo set up in the 17th minute.
He was back in action soon after, pulling off another big save to frustrate new GreenFuel signing Masina in the 28th minute.
With GreenFuel bossing possession and FC Platinum yet to register a shot on target, Bizabani’s saves kept the visitors in the game.
On the stroke of half-time, Bizabani again came to FC Platinum’s rescue, swatting away a fierce drive as Norman Mapeza’s men struggled to keep up.
The visitors looked relieved to hear the half time whistle.
Mapeza responded with a triple substitution at the re-start, throwing on Davison Marowa, Wilfred Muvirimi and Eric Manokore in a bid to stem the tide. But GreenFuel kept the pressure up, with Chitiyo pulling strings in midfield. The home side, however, just could not find the finish their dominance deserved.
They were made to pay
In a rare foray forward deep into stoppage time, Marowa was clipped by Chinyengetere on the edge of the box. Selemani stepped up and bent in a sublime free kick, silencing the home crowd and breaking GreenFuel hearts.
“It’s a painful defeat considering the chances that we missed,” admitted GreenFuel coach Rodwell Dhlakama.
“We had our chances and could have done better. It wasn’t a difficult game for us, we created a lot, including three penalty calls that were not given. There’s not much more I can say, but we really wanted to win this game because we’re sitting in the relegation zone, which is not good for us.”
Mapeza praised his players’ resilience after a demanding stretch of games.
“I’m proud of the boys. They worked so hard for this victory,” he said. “We’ve played three matches within seven days and collected all nine points. I’ve been talking to these boys about set pieces. Last week we scored both goals from them, and today again, we got the result from a set piece situation.”
MWOS draw at Ngoni
MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa maintained that his side are still looking at attaining a top eight- finish, after the debutants were forced to come from behind to secure a point off a 1-1 draw against Herentals at Ngoni yesterday.
Herentals skipper Tinotenda Benza opened the scores in the 22nd minute before Billy Veremu levelled six minutes later, to take his season’s tally to 11 goals.
The Punters have 42 points and are now second, a point behind log leaders Simba Bhora who face Manica Diamonds at Sakubva this afternoon.
For a team that went for 17 games unbeaten from the start of the season, MWOS have now gone for four matches without a win. However, MWOS coach Mutasa still holds his head high and believes his team will finish in the top eight, shrugging off championship talk.
“Football has always been a pressure game but as footballers we want to weather this storm and go forward.
“I want to believe that it’s a phase that will pass. You can only bounce back if you are united,” said Mutasa, who urged his club’s fans to keep believing.
“These results which are coming are part and parcel of football. Whether it be here in Zimbabwe or elsewhere teams and times they go out of form’’.
He emphasised unity.
“We have been a family from the very onset and always emphasised the element of being together. The element of having our noses in the same direction.
“Whether things are flowing or not flowing, we can only cry after the game.”
“We regularly find chances, even when there’s opposition, we’ve got to score.
“When you get chances and then you don’t utilise them, you’re bound to be punished.
“That’s what it’s like now,” said Mutasa, who thought the result was more like two points dropped.
Herentals are seventh on the log with 35 points and their coach Paul Benza thought collecting a point on the road was crucial.
“I’m definitely happy with collecting a point away. For me, it is very important, because at the end of the day, what matters most is not losing games,” said Benza.
His brother and club owner Innocent did not feature in the match.
ZPC Kariba crush Kwekwe to
end drought in Style
ZPC Kariba finally remembered how to win, and they did it with an emphatic 3-0 triumph over basement side Kwekwe United at Bata.
After eight frustrating games without a victory, Kauya Katuruturu exploded back to life to complete a league double over Kwekwe.
The result, which mirrored their 5-0 thrashing of Kwekwe in the reverse fixture, was a timely reminder of ZPC Kariba’s attacking potential and could be the turning
point in what had become a stagnating season.
Charles Munyanyi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, before goalkeeper Tatenda Munditi smashed in a stunning
free-kick just before the break to double the lead.
Veteran Moses Demera sealed the emphatic victory early in the second half.
“We should have scored more goals,” said a relieved ZPC Kariba coach Newton Chitewe.
“We’ve been struggling in front of goal recently, so it’s good to harvest a lot today. We want to do better than last year and finish in the top eight come end of season.”
