Vusumuzi Dube
Don Makanyanga in Zvishavane
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
THE Beast appears to have finally awoken from its slumber.
Champions FC Platinum roared back to within touching distance of log leaders when they ran out of with full points from their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Platinum derby showdown with Ngezi at Mandava yesterday.
A second minute strike by FC Platinum man of the moment, Jarrison Selemani, proved priceless as it ensured the champions moved to second position and five points behind the leaders.
It was fifth straight win Norman Mapeza’s men, underlining their resurgence as the championship marathon canters towards its business end.
Selemani’s winner also ended Ngezi’s four-match winning streak and left the title race open.
Mapeza lauded his players for showing character.
“Ngezi Platinum Stars came in with their game plan and it was not an easy game for us but what we are happy with is that we managed to grind a result and collected maximum points.
“This is a massive result for us going forward,’’ Mapeza said.
The Reigning Coach of the Year believes the title race is still too close to call.
“The games are still on and I do not want to say this one (team) has any advantage to us the race is still open and us as FC Platinum we are concentrating on our remaining matches,’’ said Mapeza.
It was also the first time that Takesure Chiragwi fell to FC Platinum since taking over as Ngezi coach.
Chiragwi took the defeat in his stride.
“We had an early set back and we tried what we tried and on a good day we could have won this match but you have to accept that some days are not your days and today (yesterday) was on not ours,” he said.
Chiragwi maintained that he does not want to be dragged into title debate.
“As Chiragwi, I am in competition with Ngezi Platinum Stars and I am happy with what we have done.
“Whatever that is going to happen will be God’s will,’’ said Chiragwi.
In scoring the winner, Selemani who seems to have found his form, connected with a Nomore Chinyerere free-kick.
Thereafter it became a tense midfield battle between the two sides with a few scoring goal scoring opportunities being created on either end in the first period.
Ngezi were a better side going forward leaving FC Platinum to rely on counter-attacks.
The hosts were unlucky not to grab a second before the break as they wasted a golden opportunity on the stroke of half-time.
Soccer Star Walter Musona beat his markers inside the Ngezi box but instead of going for a goal he opted to pass the responsibility to Selemani who saw his effort being thwarted by Nelson Chadya.
FC Platinum were also quick off the blocks after resumption with Brian Banda forcing Chadya to make another fine save in the 47th minute.
After absorbing a 10-mimiute blitz, Ngezi launched a counter-raid of their own and had a good chance to level terms from a set piece.
Qadr Amini whipped in a cross to Farai Madhanhaga, whose header missed the target by a few inches.
In the 65th minute Musona failed to beat Chadya from a one-one-on-one situation while Amin had a chance to also draw the visitors level in the 79th minute when the Ngezi skipper received a pass from Marvelous Mukumba on the edge of the box but shot high.
Chadya also ensured Ngezi did not fall further behind when he brilliantly stopped Juan Mutudza’s attempt in the 75th minute.
Bongani Ndlovu