Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Scottland………. (1) 1
FC Platinum……. (0) 1
FANTASTIC! Fantastic, marvellous! Massive goal!
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza ran out of superlatives to describe a wonder strike by midfielder Jarrison Selemani in a drawn Premier Soccer League match against Scottland at Rufaro yesterday.
The 53rd minute goal, struck with power and precision from a distance, turned out to be all that the Zvishavane side needed to remain unbeaten this season.
FC Platinum found themselves trailing after Scottland had powered to a first half lead courtesy of Scottland fans’ favourite, Vassili Kawe.
The defining moment for the platinum miners came just a few minutes after Selemani was introduced at the resumption.
Probably it was meant as a reminder of his capabilities to Scottland boss Tonderai Ndiraya, who offloaded him at Dynamos a few back when he was still trying to find his feet in professional football.
He had only made a few touches after getting on as a half time substitute, but his confidence and spirit of adventure was rewarded when he controlled the ball and unleashed a thunderbolt that caught goalkeeper Nelson Chadya by surprise.
Chadya dived to his left but was no match to the pace of the ball which curled into the top corner of the nets.
It was not Mapeza alone who stood awestruck by the goal. Scottland coach Ndiraya said his team slackened a bit and allowed the former Dynamos man to take the strike.
“It was a wonder goal from Jarrison. I mean, that goal can win any match in any league. Technically, well struck. But I thought probably we then gave too much room to Jarrison. He was not closed down tightly.
“When he got in, we actually passed the message to keep an eye on him because he can take those shots from that angle. But we allowed him to get close to the box. Then he struck that wonder goal.
“So, a very beautiful goal, which can win you any match,” said Ndiraya.
For Scottland it was two points lost at home after giving away the lead. With one win from their last five outings, the Mabvuku side is slowly lagging behind the leading pack.
They dropped one rung to fourth place with 12 points from seven games. Five points now separate them with top of the table side MWOS. But Ndiraya is buoyed by the positives displayed by his boys in the game played so far.
“But in the end, a draw was a very fair result for me, if you ask me,” he said.
“I’ll take the point. This is FC Platinum we’re playing against, a team that has been there for a while. At least we are still coming together. But I like the improvement that is in the team.
“The team is improving by each game. Hopefully, going forward, we can have more confidence. We can have better performances from the team as a whole,” said Ndiraya.
But for FC Platinum, they have had one too many of these stalemates this season, having drawn in six of their seven matches.
They one of the only two teams to taste defeat, alongside impressive newboys MWOS. But FC Platinum have won only once.
With a little bit more precision, they could have bagged maximum points after putting on a solid performance away from home.
Captain of the day Brian Banda should be ruing the opportunity squandered when he crashed his effort against the crossbar when it was plausible to score from point blank.
The Platinum miners were the better side after returning from the half time more purposeful and knocking the ball around, away from the reach of their hosts who had retreat a bit deeper after taking the lead via Kawe in the 19th minute.
“I think it was a good game of football,” said Mapeza.
“We had our moments, they had their moments. Then second half they had some good opportunities from set pieces. We also had a good opportunity from that ball which hit the post. We had better chances but look, this is what we have been doing.
“We have been playing some quality football, we have been creating opportunities. But it’s football at the end of the day, it’s a process. We just need to keep working hard, just need to keep working hard.
“Also the boys just need to keep believing that it will happen, it will happen,” said Mapeza.
FC Platinum ended the Easter weekend seated on 10th place with nine points from seven games.
Teams
Scottland: Nelson Chadya, Kingsley Mureremba (E Saidi, 57th Min), Walter Musona (T Machope, 70th Min), Peter Muduhwa, Gareth Madhake, Kevin Moyo, Khama Billiat (M Tapera, 76th Min), Albert Manenji, Mthokozisi Msebe (P Mutimbanyoka, 57th Min), Vassili Kawe, Fredrick Botchway (N Mutasa, 76th Min)
FC Platinum: David Bizabani, M. Ngwenya, Nickson Nyasulu, Precious Phiri, Divine Mhindirira (P. Shoko, 80th Min), Brian Banda, Hagiazo Magaya, Thubelihle Jubani, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (V Nyangulu, 72nd Min), Claivert Tshuma (J Selemani, 46th Min), Oscar Вhеbhе
