Platinum derby ends in stalemate as Yadah win

Innocent Kurira at Mandava Stadium

FC Platinum 0-0 Ngezi Platinum

NORMAN Mapeza and Takesure Chiragwi were both animated on the touchline for the entire 90 minutes but still, could not outwit each other in this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter played yesterday.

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 day. After the game, 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,” said Mapeza. His opposite number Takesure Chiragwi felt they could have walked away with three points.

“I thought we could have got 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,” said Chiragwi.

The first real chance of the game fell to Panashe Mutimbanyoka who showed good footwork inside the,  but his final effort at goal was weak. Two minutes later, Obriel Chirinda made a good run into the box but his cut back met no takers and the hosts survived.

Jason Selemani’s deeping effort was tipped over the bar by Nelson Chadya in goal for FC Platinum. Meanwhile, Khama Billiat and Blessed Ndereki scored to ensure that Yadah extended their unbeaten run to three matches as they beat visiting Bikita Minerals 2-0 at the Heart Stadium yesterday.

Khama’ a goal was his eighth of the season and it saw him becoming the current joint top goal scorer with CAPS  United forward, William Manondo. The two sides put up a balanced first half in which both failed to score despite creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities.

Yadah were the first to threaten on the quarter-hour mark when Jerry Chipangura failed to convert Ndereki’s cross at close range as his effort went over the bar. The match went to the break deadlocked.  Yadah returned from the break a more ambitious side and became the dominant side of the two.

Former Zimbabwe international, Billiat finally broke the deadlock 15 minutes before time when he controlled a Ryan Ncube cross inside the visitors’ box unleashing a powerful volley at close range to give the hosts a one-goal lead.

Ndereki was to ensure that The Miracle Boys collected maximum points with a minute left as he beat his markers on the right flank before unleashing a powerful strike onto the near post. Yadah FC coach, Thomas Ruzive was elated with the win, describing it as a huge relief for his side.