We’re underdogs: Shabanie captain

bring the whole town to a standstill.
“We are going to be the underdogs tomorrow (today) because we do not have big names in our team. I am just appealing to the match officials to be fair and not to decide the outcome of the match,” said Mware.
“FC Platinum was given a dubious penalty last season and a lot of clubs complained that some of their victories were decided by the referees.
“This season, Hwange have complained twice — they were denied a penalty in the league match at the Colliery and also when FC Platinum were given a goal in the semi-final scored from an offside position.
“Gunners complained during the Independence Cup final accusing the referee for adding more minutes.
“We have a lot of respect for FC Platinum who represented Zimbabwe in the Champions League but we are capable of beating any team. Platinum will field 11 players with two legs and we will do the same.
“That is the reason why we are in the league and on top of the log. We are going to play the match for our fans because we have a large fan base here and we do not want to disappoint them.”
A win will be a blessing to the player who wedded Tafadzwanashe early this month before getting the armband to guide the Chinda Boys.
The asbestos miners have in their ranks leading goal-scorer Nelson Mazivisa, Francis Kanda, Raymond Sibanda, Pervington Zimunya, Area Phiri, Simon Choenda, Tarisai Rukanda and Caleb Masocha, who can carry their day.
FC Platinum won both matches last season – winning 3-1 away and 1-0 at Mandava.
The hero for both legs, Donald “Dombo” Ngoma, will be missing in action as he is injured.
FC Platinum is likely to parade their trophies, Independence Cup and the Bob 88 Super Cup, before the derby.
Tafadzwa Dube, the inspirational FC Platinum goalkeeper, received a major boost ahead of the epic battle this afternoon, with a local businessman giving him US$500 for his heroic performance during the Independence Trophy final. I am very impressed by the performance of the goalkeeper. At first I thought we had been booted out of the Independence Cup but he had a good display when he saved two penalties,” said Clever Pote, who runs a chain of supermarkets and a lodge in the town.
“I am happy for what he has done for the Zvishavane community by helping us to get another cup in just a space of two months.
“He was the man-of-the-match and I am giving him US$500 for his heroics. As soon as the team lands in Zvishavane he must come and collect the cash from the supermarket.”
The miners had trailed the Bulls after Norman Maroto pushed the Harare side into the lead in the 10th minute.
But talented leftback, Qadr Amin, equalised in the 92nd minute.
Dube then turned hero when he dived to his right to stop Gift Phiri’s low shot before he palmed out Protash Kabwe’s rising effort.
FC Platinum, who lifted their second trophy since gaining promotion last season, scored through Joel Ngodzo, Amin, Daniel Veremu and Mitchelle Katvairo. The Dynamos Supporters’ Chapter in Zvishavane has urged its members to go to Mandava today to support Shabanie. The vice-chairman of the group, Koniwek “DeMbare” Machingura, said Shabanie were the better devils.
“We are encouraging our fans to come in their numbers to support Shabanie Mine. I want them to bring the DeMbare flags tomasunganidza kuratidza kuti Shabanie hatiivenge zvachose,” said Machingura.
“FC Platinum have treated Marere (Benjamin) in a bad way and refused to give him clearance to rejoin Dynamos or even CAPS United. They left him out of the trip to Swaziland. Marere is now back at FC Platinum after the intervention of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.