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Sports Reporter
FC Platinum. . . . (1) 2
Tsholotsho. . . . . (1) 1
FC PLATINUM got their 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign off to a winning start at Mandava yesterday.
Pure Platinum Play new player Nqobizitha Masuku made an immediate impact for his new club as he opened the scoring for the home side on 14 minutes.
However, the home side failed to build on that impressive start and allowed Tsholotsho to steal a leveller on the stroke of halftime, with Mostafa Ponyera scoring his team’s first goal of the season.
The second half was an evenly balanced affair until Zambian import Obrey Chirwa scored what turned out to be a winner on 83 minutes.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza, who has tasked his charges to better last season’s number three finish was happy with the win.
“I am very happy we got a positive result on the opening day of the season,” he said.
“We knew Tsholotsho would play on the counter but we managed to keep possession and contained them very well in the process.
“I was very impressed by the new arrivals Hillary Bakacheza and Nqobizitha Masuku whom I must say have made a good impression from the word go. But we are not surprised, we knew they are excellent players and that is why we signed them,” he said.
FC Platinum were all over the visitors from the first whistle but they missed a number of chances, with Chirwa being the chief culprit.
Mapeza’s men will need to work on their finishing if they entertain hopes of landing their maiden championship.
The visitors’ coach Lizwe Sweswe was a disappointed man but expressed confidence that they will come right as the season unfolds.
“I am obviously disappointed but we will go back and work on our mistakes and improve,” said Sweswe.
Online Reporter