Rhinos march on, FC Platinum held

Sport
Black Rhinos’ fairytale in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League continued in Bulawayo when they edged Bulawayo City at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

HOW MINE… 0 FC PLATINUM…. 0

BULAWAYO CITY… 0 BLACK RHINOS… (0) 1

Black Rhinos’ fairytale in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League continued in Bulawayo when they edged Bulawayo City at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

BY FORTUNE MBELE/THANDIWE MOYO

The army-side scored the only goal of the contest courtesy of a penalty awarded by referee Nomore Musundire following a foul on Milton Kureva in the 50th minute by Zibusiso Sibanda.

Goalkeeper Herbert Rusawo opted to take the penalty and sent his opposite number Aaron Ngwenya in goals for Bulawayo City the wrong way.

An elated Black Rhinos coach Stanford Stix Mutizwa said their aim was to collect as many points as they could in the first half of the season.

“We came from Division One and at this point in the league we need to collect points as much as possible. It is going to be tough but through the confidence that we build by winning the matches, we can make it,” said the local football legend.

Bulawayo City coach Mandla Mpofu, who suffered his third defeat in a row, said he was disappointed with the loss.

“We dominated in the first half and could have scored. But Rhinos got one opportunity to score and they utilised it. We have to go back and start working harder and fight hard to win our next match,” he said.

In the other match at the same venue, FC Platinum failed to utilise an opportunity to score and forge ahead when Rodwell Chinyengetere’s spot kick was saved by How Mine goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya in the first match that was played at the same venue.

Referee Norman Matemera had adjudged that Praise Tonha fouled Gift Mbweti inside the box in the 57th minute and pointed to the spot but Diya thwarted Chinyengetere’s spot kick.

FC Platinum had a few anxious moments earlier in the first half when Kuda Musharu blasted his effort on the cross bar with the goalkeeper Petros Mhari miles off the action.

Just after the hour mark, the platinum miners piled on the pressure, but Gerald Takwara’s shot was blocked by the upright.

Coach Norman Mapeza said they had created the chances but failed to convert them.

“You can do everything on the field but we need to score goals. We win by scoring goal and we need to rectify that. Missing the penalty happens in a game and we cannot blame anyone. The person who feels confident takes it,” he said. How Mine gaffer Kelvin Kaindu said it was two points lost.

“We dropped points at home. We created about three chances that we could have scored in the first half but failed to wrap up the game. We did not play up to expectation,” he said.