Ngezi prove champs mettle

Lawrence Moyo

Head Zimpapers Sports Hub

ZIMBABWE champions Ngezi Platinum have risen from the bottom half of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings to be second behind early favourites, FC Platinum with an impressive seven-match winning run over a two-month period.

After 11 games, Ngezi Platinum were nine points behind FC Platinum and 10 behind then leaders Manica Diamonds.

Now the gap with leaders FC Platinum is down to five points while Ngezi Platinum are a point better than Manica Diamonds, who at one stage threatened to run away with the championship.

It sets the stage for a bruising encounter at Mandava on Saturday when FC Platinum welcome Ngezi Platinum in a top-of-the-table clash that will also double as a platinum derby.

FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum are the only sides unbeaten over the last seven matchdays and have both conceded just four goals over the period.

Ngezi Platinum looked in all sorts of problems when they lost 1-2 to Simba Bhora at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva on May 11, leaving them 12th in the 18-team Premiership.

At that stage, Ngezi Platinum with 12 points were closer to the bottom team Hwange — as only five points separated them than leaders Manica Diamonds who were 10 points away.

Slowly there was talk of coach Takesure Chiragwi walking on thin ice.

Its now all forgotten as Ngezi Platinum are the only team with a 100 percent record since Matchday 12 with FC Platinum the second best but four points behind.

With prolific striker Obriel Chirinda finally getting his PSL licence, he has managed four goals in the four matches he has played for Ngezi Platinum as he plays catch up in the race for the Golden Boot award.

When they lost to Simba Bhora, Ngezi Platinum were three points behind Dynamos but a 12-point swing sees the Mhondoro-Ngezi outfit nine points above DeMbare.