Platinum sink Byo City

Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
FC Platinum 1-0 Bulawayo City
BRIAN Muzondiwa’s 26th minute goal was enough for the Zvishavane-based platinum miners to collect maximum points in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Mandava Stadium yesterday. FC Platinum are now tied on 30 points with Highlanders at the top of the log. Muzondiwa had been sidelined by injury, but paid back the trust shown in him by coach Norman Mapeza by scoring the all-important goal.

Tarisai Rukanda won possession deep in midfield and raced towards the Bulawayo City area. He sent through an inch perfect pass to hard-running Marshall Mudehwe, who shrugged off his markers to set up Muzondiwa to poke the ball past the badly exposed Liberty Chirava.

City tried to stage a comeback in the second half, but found the hosts’ defence resolute. Gerald Takwara was outstanding in midfield for FC Platinum and directed operations with the assistance of Rodwell Chinyengetere, while Zibusiso Sibanda was outstanding for City.

The visitors’ best chance fell to Innocent Kutsanzira in the 79th minute when the hosts’ keeper Petros Mhari missed a throw, but the forward’s effort was cleared off the line by Elvis Moyo.

Mapeza was happy with the result. “I’m excited that we have reached the 30-point mark as that was our target. We still need to collect maximum points along the way and I’m pleased with our performance,” he said.

FC Platinum had 19 points at this stage last season. “It was a hard-fought victory. Bulawayo City came here with a very good game plan and gave us a good game,” he said. City coach Philani Ncube blamed his players for giving too much respect to the platinum miners.

“It was a game of two halves. We were all over them in the second half, but we couldn’t score. We conceded a very stupid goal and they also managed to utilise their home advantage,” said Ncube.