Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DRAW specialists FC Platinum cantered to their 11th deadlock of the 2025 season to remain one of only two sides, along with leaders MWOS, who are still unbeaten after the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match-day 13 round of fixtures yesterday.
MWOS took their number of drawn games to six after coming from behind to hold GreenFuel 1-1 in Chisumbanje in a match in which veteran midfielder Perfect Chikwende had thrust the hosts into a 39th-minute lead, before the visitors’ “man of the moment’’ Billy Vheremu levelled matters in the 51st minute.
It was a crucial point on the road, which ensured the Premiership newboys took their unbeaten start to the top-flight to 13 games.
Yet GreenFuel started the better side as MWOS took a while to settle their nerves.
The home side had better chances in the opening period, but Chris Ngwende’s decision-making saw his effort hit the side netting in the 12th minute.
Veremu, who is enjoying a purple spell following his hat-trick against Kwekwe United in matchday 12, was again the focal point for the visitors and the lanky former Bulawayo Chiefs forward did not disappoint.
MWOS enjoyed a lion’s share of possession after scoring, but they could not breach the hosts’ defence further.
GreenFuel head coach Taurai Mangwiro was not happy about their failure to protect their lead, but satisfied that their unbeaten home record remained intact.
“I wouldn’t want to complain about the manner in which the boys performed, but I have reservations about us throwing away a lead. Good effort from the boys. We did very well, especially in the first half, took that lead but unfortunately, we could not protect it,” said Mangwiro.
MWOS gaffer Lloyd Mutasa praised the debutants’ resilience even when put on the back foot.
“We conceded first, but the never-die spirit from these youngsters is something I should appreciate,” he said. “We tried as much as we could to get the win, but we take the point and go back to the drawing board.”
Former champions FC Platinum were at The Heart Stadium in Harare for a date against Yadah Stars, but Norman Mapeza’s men could only settle for a goalless draw.
FC Platinum have only won twice this season and an animated Mapeza spent the better part of the afternoon trying to urge his charges to find their range each time they ventured into the attacking third.
“We could have won by three or more goals; we created the chances, but failed to make them count and with modern football, it is key to utilise those half chances,’’ Mapeza said.
“Overall, it was a good game, we have a relatively youthful squad and from the way they are playing, I feel that we are in the right direction, so we just need to keep pushing.’’
Yadah might be desperately trying to move away from the drop zone, but their coach Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe was satisfied with the draw, which he described as the fairest result.
“We started off jittery and fortunately in those minutes, FC Platinum failed to capitalise, so they gave us enough time to creep back into the game,” Jongwe said.
“We then started creating chances, though not as much as we would have wanted, but we could not utilise them. FC Platinum are not an easy opponent. Although we failed to win, we did well to grind a point.’’
Drama at Baobab as Ngezi snatch win from jaws of defeat
Harare giants Dynamos were left feeling hard done by the match officials, who awarded Ngezi Platinum Stars a last-minute penalty at Baobab.
Dynamos, who had seemed on course for what has been a rare win this season, had taken a 32nd-minute lead via the effort of Ghanaian striker Frank Agyemang and the scoreboard read 1-0 in their favour until the 86th minute when their world crumbled on them and they fell 2-1.
Wi-Fi Boys bounce back
After switching off the winning button, TelOne bounced back, albeit via a slender 1-0 win over Kwekwe United in a low-key Midlands derby at Bata.
The Premiership’s leading scorer Washington Navaya scored the crucial goal right at the death to secure the points for TelOne and with it some relief for Herbert Maruwa’s men, who had won just once in their last five assignments.
Victory moves TelOne to fourth place on the log standings with 21 points and six points behind leaders MWOS.
“It was always going to be tough after the Yadah game; we had to psyche the players. But this again was a tough game, we got the goal in the last minute and I’m happy,” Maruwa said.
Kwekwe had a penalty shout waved away two minutes from time when Nyasha Saungweme was fouled inside the box by TelOne goalkeeper Criss Mverechena.
But referee Pride Moyo turned a blind eye to the incident.
The Wi-Fi boys then surged ahead moments later, with Navaya rising high to head home off a corner. Kwekwe stand-in coach Beknown Mhlaingena felt his side deserved something out of the match.
“It is so painful to lose the match, at least we deserved a point out of this match, that would have been a fair result. You saw what happened in the box, but there is nothing we can do,’’ he said.
Results
Yadah 0-0 FC Platinum
Ngezi Platinum Stars 2-1 Dynamos
Kwekwe United 0-1 TelOne
Bikita Minerals 0-0 ZPC Kariba
GreenFuel 1-1 MWOS
Online Reporter