FC Platium . . . (3)4 Buffaloes. . . 1
By our Correspondent
Saul Chaminuka got a baptism of fire on his return as Buffaloes coach after his side was pummelled 4-1 by FC Platinum in a Castle Larger Premier League match at Mandava stadium yesterday.
Chaminuka, who returned to the club during the premiership break after having quit the club in 2013, watched in vain as Platinum went on a rampage in the first half, scoring three goals through Wellington Kamudyariwa, Gift Belo and Tarisai Rukanda.
A Jacob Muzokomba strike early in the first half to cancel out Kamudyariwa’s opener was not enough to stop the rout as Platinum came back even more menacing in the second half, with Kamudyariwa killing the contest with his second goal in the 62nd minute.
Chaminuka blamed his shacky defence for shipping in the goals.
“Without taking away anything from FC Platinum, we gave them soft goals because our defence was jittery. I think we will start picking up points as we go as there is much work to do,” said Chaminuka.
The ecstatic Platinum coach Norman Mapeza attributed the rampant display to the friendly match they played against Congolese giants TP Mazembe last weekend.
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“The break afforded us the chance to play against one of Africa’s best sides and this conditioned us well for this match. We played as a unit and we were compact in all departments,” Mapeza said.
Platinum, who are now on 21 points started the match offensively getting into the lead in the 18th minute with Kamudyariwa smashing home from a goal mouth melee. The lead was short-lived as Muzokomba pulled one back in similar fashion. Belo, who has been one of the leading lights at Platinum, finally got his first-ever premiership goal, heading in a free kick from Raphael Muduviwa. Rukanda made it three on the half hour mark heading in another fine delivery from Muduviwa.
Kamudyariwa was to put the icing on the cake which killed the contest in the second half, tapping in a good cross from Raymond Sibanda on the left.
