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Zimpapers Sports Hub
COACHES Norman Mapeza and Takesure Chiragwi were both animated on the touchline for the entire 90 minutes, but still could not outwit each other in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Technically, both coaches seemed to have taken a cautious approach to the game and it was no surprise the two teams could not be separated at the end of the match.
FC Platinum, with 39 points from 19 matches, maintained their five-point lead over Ngezi Platinum and Simba Bhora, who were held to a draw at GreenFuel.
Mapeza admitted they had to be cautious going into the game.
“As a coach, playing games of this magnitude, we have to be very cautious. You don’t just throw your cards. They had their chances and we had ours. But at the end of the day, l am happy with the point,” he said.
Chiragwi felt they could have walked away with three points.
“I thought we could have gotten three points because of the chances that we created. We had about four chances which we could have converted. We missed chances, but we are also happy that we did not concede,” he said.
The first real chance of the game fell to FC Platinum’s Panashe Mutimbanyoka, who showed good footwork inside the box, but his final effort at goal was weak.
Two minutes later, Ngezi’s Obriel Chirinda made a good run into the box, but his cutback met no takers and the hosts survived.
Jason Selemani’s dipping effort was tipped over the bar by Nelson Chadya in goal for Ngezi Platinum.
From that moment, Chirinda caused the FC Platinum defence a number of problems, but the visitors could not find the opener.
Just before the break, Chirinda made a good run behind the FC Platinum defence to send a cross into the box, which was met by Takunda Benhura, who could only watch his effort go over the bar.
Rainsome Pavari’s shot from a distance was punched over the bar by Chadya after 69 minutes.
FC Platinum could not make anything out of the resultant corner kick.
At the GreenFuel Arena, captain Walter Musona gave Simba Bhora the lead after just five minutes, but the hosts equalised in the 35th minute through Chris Ngwende.
At Heart Stadium, second-half goals from former Zimbabwe international Khama Billiat and Blessed Ndereki ensured Yadah extended their unbeaten run to three matches as they beat visiting Bikita Minerals 2-0.
Billiat’s goal was his eighth of the season and he joins CAPS United’s William Manondo as the Premier Soccer League top scorers.
Yadah FC coach Thomas Ruzive described the win as a huge relief for his side.
“It is a huge relief after coming from a disappointing draw against Highlanders last week. We created a lot of chances and conversion remains our biggest worry, but I am happy that the guys managed to get two goals in the second half and it’s a big win for us,” he said.
Bikita’s Arnold Jani bemoaned missed chances by his charges.
“We lost concentration in the second half and we were punished for it. And again, we created a lot of chances and when you play away, you need to bury even a half chance that comes your way and I think that was the difference between us and them today (yesterday); they converted their chances and we didn’t,” he said.
At Luveve Stadium, Chicken Inn eased their coaches’ woes when they picked up maximum points against Bulawayo rivals Arenel Movers.
Brian Muza was the unlikely hero when, at the stroke of halftime, a poor clearance hit him to beat the Arenel goalkeeper.
Apart from that incident, Arenel defended well throughout the match and were unlucky to end up losers.
Online Reporter