Second time unlucky for FC Platinum

Sport
FOR THE second time since their promotion into the country’s elite football league, FC Platinum have once again failed to clinch the league title

FC PLATINUM . . . . . . . 1 CAPS UNITED . . . . . . . 1

FOR THE second time since their promotion into the country’s elite football league, FC Platinum have once again failed to clinch the league title, this time losing it to Chicken Inn after being frustrated by party spoilers CAPS United who held them to a 1-1 draw at Mandava on Saturday.

BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE

Dominic Chungwa’s first-half strike and Brian Muzondiwa’s effort were enough to ensure a share of spoils. This means that Chicken Inn have garnered an assailable 58 points going into the last round of matches this weekend.

FC-Platinum-coach-Norman-Mapeza

After knitting together a 19-match unbeaten run, the Norman Mapeza-coached side deserved something.

“It was a fantastic season for me and my players. We lost six key players midseason and we managed to move on. Everyone thought we would fail but the boys responded very well,” the platinum miners coach said.

“We wanted to push for a positive result, but it was unfortunate. We just need to go to Dongo in our last game and hope for a good finish. Congratulations to my friend Joey Antipas. He did very well this season and he deserved it.”

CAPS United gaffer Lloyd Chitembwe was happy with his charges’ performance, emphasising that they were not there to do anybody any favours.

“We are professionals. We needed to do our job, which is to play football. We are not perennial party spoilers. We do not do favours for anybody. We just play football for our benefit and we needed points as much as they did,” he said.

“The performance after we were reduced to 10 men was good. The boys did well. We are happy with our progress and we want to continue improving.”

The Green Machine surged ahead in the seventh minute when Francis Tizayi, in goal for the miners, gifted them with the lead.

Tizayi spilled what seemed like a harmless ball into the path of Chungwa, who was alert to convert for the visitors and give them a dream start.

Five minutes later, the hosts got a reprieve when Carlton Munzambwa fouled Obrey Chirwa inside the box and referee Philani Ncube awarded them a penalty.

Muzondiwa stepped up to level matters with a calmly executed effort which sent Jorum Muchambo in goal for CAPS United, the wrong way.

Midway through the first half, the Zambian had another go at the CAPS United goal with a powerful effort which was spilled by Muchambo for a corner kick.

Moments later, FC Platinum reject Joel Ngodzo was back to haunt his former paymasters. He turned the defence inside out, but his final effort went inches wide.

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