adminThe two teams meet at Maglas Stadium and Shabanie want to revenge the 0-1 loss in the Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-finals which was a thriller.
The two teams’ rivalry rates among the most fierce in Zimbabwe football with animosity taken out of the soccer field by both sets of fans.
There is however no hype for the 2012 Zvishavane Derby Part 3, in the town that has gone for two weeks without drinking water.
The shortage of water has in fact claimed one life as a man was stabbed to death following a quarrel while in a queue to draw water from a borehole on Saturday.
“We want to revenge because Platinum have beaten us thrice since last season and tomorrow we want to revenge for all the games they have beaten us. Our preparations have gone on well but we will be missing captain Rodney Mware and goalkeeper Victor (Twaliki). I am just hoping that God will smile at us tomorrow,” said assistant coach Elvis Muuya yesterday.
“I am appealing to our fans not to despair because results have not been coming but we need them to give us confidence so they must rally behind us,” said Muuya.
The two teams played a draw during their first encounter of the season.
Shabanie coach Luke Masomere appealed for calm.
“We have been finding it difficult to get into Mandava Stadium to watch FC Platinum games and I am appealing to our fans not to revenge. We are professionals and we simply need to show that to FC Platinum,” said Vahombe.
His sentiments were also echoed by FC Platinum captain Daniel Veremu who appealed for peace and more security personnel.
“Our fans do not see eye-to-eye. When we qualified for the semi-finals our fans were happy and tomorrow Shabanie fans will be rallying behind their team and they want a win so I am appealing for enough police presence to maintain law and order.
“It is going to be a difficult game for both teams as we are meeting in less than two weeks and our victory in the Mbada Cup quarter-final was narrow and Shabanie are on a revenge mission and we also have a two-point difference on the log. One team is dying to be on top of the other and by the end of the match it will have been achieved,” said Vheremu.
FC Platinum coach, Tendai Chikuni said there was nothing special about today’s game.
“It is just another league match and there is nothing really special about playing Shabanie. We will not be under pressure at all and I am likely to miss the services of Benjamin (Marere) and Allan (Gahadzikwa) who are all injured but Simon (Shoko) will have to pass a late fitness test,” he said.
Donald Ngoma, scorer of the quarter-final goal against Shabanie, carries FC Platinum’s hopes of maximum points.
Thabani Kamusoko has been commanding his new role as a defensive cog very well and if Welcome Ndiweni clicks in midfield then the match will have all the ingredients of a derby.
On the other end Tarisai Rukanda and Nelson Maziwisa are expected to have difficulty dealing with the defence of hard-tackling Norman Togara, Vheremu and Zephaniah Ngodzo.
Erea Phiri, Simon Choenda and the tall Tafadzwa Mombeshora also have to be content with Joel Ngodzo in midfield. The Shabanie team manager Samson “Sam Dread” Gondwe will be a happy man if the Chinda Boys grab maximum points.
“We want FC Platinum to bite the dust. Our fans are going to fill the stadium on Wednesday.
“We are also going to have a road show before the game,” said Gondwe.
The charge for the match has been increased to $5.
Online Reporter