FC Platinum reignite Cup hopes

Sport
FC PLATINUM kept their hopes of a memorable league and Cup double alive after thumping reigning champions Harare City in a one-sided Chibuku Super Cup semi-final at Mandava Stadium yesterday.

HARARE CITY . . . . . . . . . . .0 FC PLATINUM . . . . . . . .(1)(3)

FC PLATINUM kept their hopes of a memorable league and Cup double alive after thumping reigning champions Harare City in a one-sided Chibuku Super Cup semi-final at Mandava Stadium yesterday.

BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE

The Zvishavane-based side will now play the winner of the other semi-final match pitting Highlanders and Ngezi Platinum, which is slated for Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.

Rodwell Chinyengetere, Charles Sibanda and Marshall Mudehwe were on target for the miners to give coach Norman Mapeza a perfect response to fans, who were already doubting his credentials after last week’s draw against Ngezi Platinum.

The platinum miners are two points behind leaders CAPS United with three games to go in the premiership and yesterday’s result means they are in contention for a possible league and Cup double in the final four matches.

FC Platinum were derailed on their march to the league coronation following a 2-1 humbling by Harare City in the league, but yesterday’s victory meant they avenged the demoralising defeat by knocking Moses Chunga’s men out of the competition.

Mapeza was happy with his team’s progression, but was quick to emphasise that he was not under any pressure. “We are happy the guys did well today. The most important thing is that we do not lose focus in the final matches of the season,” Mapeza said.

“Credit goes to Harare City; they gave us a good game here. They came here determined to progress to the final. I am not under pressure. I am not affected by last week’s incident with the supporters, the club chairman actually came to me and apologised.

“The pain we feel is double what supporters feel. When we go to those matches, we actually want to win more,” he said.

Yesterday’s man of the match, Mudehwe, who sparked last week’s resentment from fans after he was surprisingly hauled off by the coach expressed satisfaction after two consecutive top-drawer performances.

“I am happy because I always want to improve my game. I always want to play better than what I would have done in previous matches.

“I have a good relationship with my coach and I am doing all I can to improve my game the way he wants us to play,” said Mudehwe.

Meanwhile, yesterday’s elimination of the champions was too much for Chunga, who did not entertain post-match interviews from the media.

The opening half produced plenty of chances for both sides as they sought to seize the early initiative in the match.

However, it was FC Platinum, who created the better chances, but found the Harare City goalie Tafadzwa Dube in an uncompromising form to keep the City Fathers in the contest.

Veteran forward Chinyengetere rolled back the years to fire home a curling effort, finding the top right corner to beat Dube, who had been hitherto impenetrable.

Second-half substitute Sibanda made the most of a Raymond Uchena mistake to fire home the second goal after the breather.

Mudehwe capped a fine afternoon with an individual solo effort in the final stages of the match to add gloss to the scoreline.

Teams:

Harare City: T Dube, J Tigere, H Chapusha (R Uchena 71), N Diro, W Manondo, J Chipangura, R Manuvire ( G Kufandada 67), E Madanhanga, R Chitiyo, T Chimwemwe, M Vengesayi (T Tumba 75)

FC Platinum: P Mhari, I Nekati, G Bello, K Moyo, W Sitima, W Mhango, R Chinyengetere, N Masuku (G Takwara), W Musona, T Rukanda (C Sibanda 73), M Mudehwe