The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda in KARIBA
ZPC Kariba.............................. 0
FC Platinum..............................(3) 3
ZPC Kariba’s much-awaited homecoming was spoiled in embarrassing fashion by a pumped up FC Platinum at the newly-sanctioned Nyamhunga Stadium yesterday.
It was the first premier league match in the history of the resort town, but things went horribly wrong for the hosts as early as the first minute of the match when defender George Magariro headed into his own net.
On-fire FC Platinum forward Walter Musona doubled the lead after six minutes, blasting from close range for his sixth goal of the season. Musona, who had to be taken off just before half-time with a pulled muscle, is now the league’s joint top scorer together with ZPC Kariba’s Raphael Manuvire, who was absent yesterday.
Pint-sized FC Platinum left-back Raymond Sibanda effectively switched off the power in Kariba four minutes from the oranges. He fired home a grounder after ZPC Kariba failed to deal with a Raphael Muduviwa cross.
The home fans, who had come in their thousands, were stunned and some could be heard demanding the reinstating of suspended coach Saul Chaminuka.
Stand-in coach Oliver Matava was outclassed by his more illustrious counterpart Norman Mapeza, who grabbed his first full set of points on the road.
“This was a historic match, the first time people here witnessed a Premier Soccer League match and to lose in this fashion is so disappointing.
“We lost the plot in the first half but regrouped in the second when we created a couple of chances that my boys spurned.
“We are sorry; the fans came in their thousands to witness this momentous occasion, but we disappointed them,” said Matava.
Indeed, ZPC Kariba controlled the second half and could have scored as early as the first minute of the stanza, but substitute Artwell Nyamiwa’s diving header was cleared off the line.
Gangly striker Tawanda Nyamandwe headed over in the 56th minute, but perhaps the best chance came two minutes later when Nyamiwa found himself face to face with the ‘keeper, but his stinging volley was brilliantly saved by Petros Mhari.
FC Platinum hung on, creating few chances of their own towards the end of the match, with the overlapping Gift Bello causing problems, to collect their first set of full points away from their fortress Mandava.
“We came here looking for at least a draw because we knew the pedigree of our opponents, but in the end my boys surpassed expectations and we collected all the three points.
“I have always been telling my boys to believe in themselves and today we did well, especially in the first half. We will keep our cool. It is not like FC Platinum are back in the groove; no, it’s work in progress,” said Mapeza.
FC Platinum has now scored six in their last two outings, having beaten Triangle 3-2 at Mandava last Sunday.
The mood, as expected, was buoyant in this resort town of Mashonaland West, with fans blowing vuvuzelas on the main roads leading to the newly-built Nyamhunga. It was also brisk business for various service providers as the highly anticipated arrival of Premiership football in Kariba finally arrived.
Harare referee Pedzisayi Chadya did not disappoint at the centre and made some spot on calls that ruled out any chances of crowd trouble.
Teams:
ZPC Kariba: L. Chirava, B. Mutukure, D. Phiri (P. Makanje, 30mins), G. Magariro, T. Munyanduri, D. Chakupe (A. Nyamiwa, 46mins), T. Rantokoane, T. Nyamandwe, P. Tafirenyika (N. Mkwezaramba, 78mins), R. Madamombe
FC Platinum: P. Mhari, R. Muduviwa, G. Bello, R. Sibanda , W. Kamudyariwa (S. Shoko, 86mins), W. Mhango, W. Musona (A. Gahadzikwa, 45mins), D Ngoma, B. Muzondiwa (N. Papias).
