Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
Dynamos 0-0 FC Platinum
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match between Dynamos and defending champions FC Platinum failed to live up to the billing, as they shared spoils at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.
So much had been expected from the two sides who went into yesterday’s clash coming from back-to-back wins.
Being Dynamos’ first home game in Bulawayo, so much had been expected from the Harare giants who flew into the City of Kings yesterday morning for the crunch tie.
Just like Dynamos, FC Platinum were also expected to give a good display of football, but alas, the two sides connived to dish out boring performances that even the defending champions’ coach Norman Mapeza conceded the fans were shortchanged of an entertaining game.
The draw left FC Platinum third on the table tied on 25 points with second-placed Highlanders who play host to Triangle United at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon, with Mapeza content with the point.
DeMbare on the other hand moved a place up the table to position four tied on 22 points with Manica Diamonds who are away to Simba Bhora at Baobab Stadium this afternoon.
“We didn’t play well, that’s my assessment. There were certain moments where I thought we would do better, but we didn’t. I don’t know if people who came to watch football enjoyed, but for me, I’m talking about FC Platinum we didn’t do well. Poor decision making on the final third, no shot on target in the first 45 minutes and on our part we get worried when that happens. I’ll be honest, we were not ourselves today even on set pieces, I don’t know why the boys were rushing hitting the ball on the wall. We could have gotten something from the set pieces but we never forced a save from the Dynamos goalkeeper (Prince Tafiremutsa). We just have to keep on working hard, it wasn’t a bad point but in terms of performance, it wasn’t our best,” said Mapeza.
Dynamos coach Herbert Maruwa was happy with a point. The DeMbare gaffer felt that with a bit of luck in the second-half they could have shocked FC Platinum.
“It was a very difficult game especially in the first-half. In the second-half we regrouped, we made some substitutions and we could have got a goal and I’m happy with the way supporters came into the stadium.
“In the second-half we managed to penetrate their defenders compared to the first-half when we sat at the back as we wanted to catch them on counter attacks,” Maruwa said.
Never mind that the stadium wasn’t full as some of the football neutrals were across town for the Bulawayo Chiefs-Caps United clash which ended 2-1 in favour of the former. The DeMbare fans filled the Mpilo End and occasionally burst into song and dance.
With both sets of goalkeepers rarely troubled in the match that saw the two teams playing the ball more in central midfield, lacking the final pass, the first attempt at goal came in the 30th minute and it was a weak shot by FC Platinum’s Juan Mutudza.
Dynamos supporters found joy when Denver Mukamba came in the 56th minute.
FC Platinum’s veteran defender Gift Bello took one for the team when he got a yellow card for chopping the legs of Tanaka Shandirwa as he was charging at goal in the 72nd minute in a counter attack.
The platinum miners almost silenced the DeMbare faithful through 90th substitute Jarrison Selemani whose snap shot agonisingly missed the target.
Teams
Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Shadreck Nyahwa (Elvis Moyo, 68th minute), Kevin Moyo, Donald Dzvinyai, Junior Makunike, Emmanuel Ziocha (Denver Mukamba, 56th minute), Donald Mudadi (Arthur Musiyiwa, 56th minute), Tanaka Shandirwa, Keith Madera (Emmanuel Paga, 84th minute), Tinashe Makanda (Elton Chikona, 56th minute)
FC Platinum: Wallace Magalane, Gift Mbweti, Kelvin Mangiza, Gift Bello, More Chinyerere, Rainsome Pavari, Juan Mutudza, Brian Banda, Panashe Mutimbanyoka (Jarrison Selemani, 90th minute), Walter Musonda, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (Perfect Chikwende, 81st minute)
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Matchday 14 results and fixtures
Yesterday: Bulawayo Chiefs 2-1 Caps United, Dynamos 0-0 FC Platinum, Yadah 0-2 Black Rhinos, Cranborne Bullets 0-2 Herentals
Today: Highlanders v Triangle United (Barbourfields Stadium), Greenfuel v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Hwange v ZPC Kariba (Colliery), Sheasham v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Bata), Simba Bhora v Manica Diamonds (Baobab)
Bongani Ndlovu