Defending champions FC Platinum produced a top-notch display to thrash their impoverished cross-town rivals Shabanie in a one-sided Zvishavane derby at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
BY TERRY MADYAUTA FC Platinum…………..(2)(4) Shabanie Mine………..(0)(0)
A goal each from Rahman Kutsanzira, Mkokheli Dube, Farai Edwin Madhanhanga and Ali Sadiki ensured the miners collected maximum points and keep pressure on Castle Lager Premier Soccer League pacesetters Ngezi Platinum.
It only took eight minutes for the reigning champions to stamp their authority courtesy of a delightful goal from Kutsanzira.
The former Highlanders skipper was impressive with some fine runs on and off the ball and he poked the ball home following a quick and neat interchange of passes with Elvis Moyo.
Dube doubled the score for FC Platinum on the 44th-minute mark with an easy goal when he capitalised on a mix-up between the Shabanie defenders to calmly slot the ball past goalie Biggie Temera.
The miners continued to run rings around the cash-strapped outfit and three minutes after the half-time break, gritty midfielder Madhanhanga scored Platinum’s third. Madhanhanga was picked unmarked by Rodwell Chinyengetere and the former scored his fourth goal of the season with a powerful left footer from just outside the box. Sadiki put the final nail on the coffin with FC Platinum’s fourth goal in the referee’s optional time with a curling shot when he broke loose on the left flank. FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza (pictured) was satisfied with his side’s performance.
“At the end of the day we are celebrating three points, which is what we always play for. It is not about how many goals we score in derbies, but what we earned after,” he said.
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“There is a lot of pressure on us, but the good thing is that it’s positive pressure.
“Going forward against Ngezi, we will not change our usual type of play but we are playing to win.”
His counterpart Takesure Chiragwi looked downcast after the match and admitted that his side had been rolled over.
“The hosts were all over us and they were clinical in front of goal. We had our chances but we did not score, which is disheartening. We were playing against a very experienced team with very good players but the boys still gave a good fight,” said Chiragwi.
“The result does not reflect what happened in the match as we tried our best.” Teams:
FC Platinum: P Mhari, R Muduviwa, G Bello, W Stima, E Moyo, W Mhango, R Chinyengetere (N Tigere 70’), F Madhanhanga, R Kutsanzira (G Mbweti 77’), M Dube (A Eonde 83’) A Sadiki.
Shabanie Mine: B Temera, A Maliselo, W Kahuni, D Taderera, T Chigede, J Nyabinde, E Kawayuja (K Dlamini 55’), C Rusere (T Ajana 70’), D Temwanjira, T Makuwe (R Kawondera 55’), T Mupumha.
