The Sunday Mail
FC Platinum……………………….. 3
Harare City ………………………….1
THERE are days when the absence of the Supersport cameras is felt the most.
Yesterday was one of those days.
This Castle Lager Premier Soccer League classic between two football purists deserved to be watched by more than the estimated 3 000 people who were at Mandava yesterday.
It deserved to be carried into billions of homes.
These are the matches that must be archived for future generations to enjoy.
But alas, there were no cameras to capture the action as FC Platinum knocked and subdued a Harare City outfit that made a real fight of it.
Second-half goals from the inspiring Mkhokheli Dube, former City man Edwin Madhanhanga and Rodwell Chinyengetere gave the hosts maximum points.
Ray Uchena cancelled out Dube’s 48th minute opener but Madhanhanga headed FC Platinum back into the lead and did not celebrate his somewhat controversial goal.
It looked as if the midfielder was in an offside position when he beat Maxwell Nyamupanedengu from the blind side.
But without television replays we will never know for certain if indeed Madhanhanga was offside.
Having fallen behind Mark Harrison, the City mentor reverted to having three at the back, pulling out Elisha Muroiwa for Denzel Chimwemwe.
The move gave the Briton’s team some width but with the Cameroonian Albert Eonde a handful upfront, FC Platinum always had an escape valve.
As they closed shop, the home side sought Eonde with long balls and the 19-year-old striker obliged by keeping the possession well and bullying the City defenders.
The visitors’ rear-guard had little in the way of legal ways to stop Eonde.
“Because of his size, he will trouble a lot of defenders so one thing we are working on is his mind.
“We are always telling him to keep it cool even when he is being kicked and elbowed like was the case during this game,” commented FC Platinum stand-in coach Lizwe Sweswe.
For Harrison, this first defeat of the season is water under the bridge.
“We were always going to lose one day and I am glad it was against the best team in the league.
“We will draw lessons from this defeat and seek to bounce back stronger in our next game,’ he said.
Teams
FC Platinum: F. Tizayi, J. Mukombwe, E. Moyo, K. Moyo, W. Mhango, R. Chinyengetere, E. Madhanhanga, M. Dube (G. Mbweti. 68 mins), A. Eonde, A. Sadiki.
Harare City: E. Nyamupanedengu, R. Uchena, E. Muroiwa (D. Chimwemwe, 68 mins), W. Manondo (M. Gaki, 71mins), M. Vengesai (T. Tumba, 78 mins), T. Samanja, M. Muchenje, K. Musharu, M. Diro Nyenye, B. Chayambuka, T. Chimwemwe
