The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
HAVING three attacking front players is now one of the deadliest weapons in modern football. It has gradually made the 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 formations more popular than the 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 setups that favour two attacking players.
Pep Guardiola popularised the 4-3-3 formation during his reign at Barcelona, where he masterminded Barca’s treble during the 2008/2009 season. His side had a deadly front three of Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o.
It claimed the Champions League, Copa del Rey and LaLiga in 2009, becoming the first Spanish side to do so.
Antonio Conte also revolutionised the English Premier League with his 3-4-3 formation at Chelsea, which was fronted by Pedro, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard.
The Italian tactician won the Premier League title in 2017 and the FA Cup in 2018.
Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo formed a deadly front three for Real Madrid, which was famously known as BBC.
They won four Champions League trophies with Los Blancos between 2014 and 2018. No front trio has won as many Champions Leagues as Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo.
Jurgen Klopp also adopted a front three to good effect with Liverpool, winning the Premier League and Champions League with an attack line that was powered by Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar — collectively known as MSN — are regarded as the best-ever front three, having won two LaLiga titles, the Champions League, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and three Copa del Rey titles with Barcelona.
In Zimbabwe, the late Steve “The Dude” Kwashi favoured the 4-3-3 formation when his trailblazing CAPS United side won the Premier Soccer League in 1996.
Attackers Alois Bunjira, Stewart “Shutto” Murisa and Morgan Nkathazo combined to ruthless effect for Makepekepe.
“Ours was a telepathic combination. We understood each other and we enjoyed destroying teams,” recalls Murisa.
However, a fresh and deadly front three is in the making at Castle Lager Premiership Soccer League champions FC Platinum, who are on the verge of making history in the top-flight.
The Zvishavane side won their fourth straight title last season. They joined Dynamos and Highlanders as the only other PSL teams to achieve such a feat. FC Platinum played mainly a 3-4-3 formation that was fronted by Walter Musona, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and Panashe Mutimbanyoka.
The trio scored 29 goals between them during the 2021/2022 Premiership and contributed 56 percent of FC Platinum’s season tally of 52. Musona contributed 14 goals and was named Soccer Star of the Year, while 19-year-old Ngwenya contributed 10 in his debut season. Their dynamic partnership is expected to light up Mandava Stadium on Saturday, when FC Platinum host Chibuku Super Cup winners Bulawayo Chiefs in the Castle Lager Challenge Cup.
The match — a curtain-raiser for the season — is contested by winners of the league and the Chibuku Super Cup.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza comes up against his former assistant Lizwe Sweswe, in what promises to be a battle of wits. Sweswe was Mapeza’s assistant at FC Platinum between 2016 and 2019.
He won the league title with the club in 2019, when Mapeza had left for South Africa’s Chippa United.
“I must say what these boys (Musona, Ngwenya and Mutimbanyoka) did last season was remarkable in terms of their maturity,” said Mapeza.
“Look at Thando (Ngwenya), it was his first season in the PSL. He never played in our Under-19 team as he went straight into the first team, but he scored 10 goals.
“Not everyone expected that achievement; that was massive.”
He, however, wants his treasured trio to take it step by step. “For us, it’s a work in progress — these boys are still growing.
“Look at Marcus Rashford (Manchester United). It took him a lot of seasons for him to reach the levels he is at now.
“But we expect more from the boys, given that they have now gained more experience and they know what needs to be done.
“Although we will not put them under unnecessary pressure, they have to keep their feet on the ground; it’s a process and we wait to see how they perform this season.”
Musona rejoined FC Platinum a few months after the 2021/2022 season had started and his arrival boosted the miners’ title defence. “It was good for Panashe (Mutimbanyoka) and Thando (Ngwenya) to have Walter (Musona) by their side, and I am sure they also learnt a lot from him,” said the gaffer.
Veteran forward Perfect Chikwende is back at FC Platinum, who have also added Jarrison Selemani to their attacking options.
The 29-year-old Chikwende could face his former paymasters Bulawayo Chiefs as early as Saturday.
“We brought back Perfect (Chikwende) so that the boys can also learn from him,” Mapeza said.
FC Platinum have retained the bulk of the squad that did duty last season, including the ageless Gift Bello, Lawrence Mhlanga, Kelvin Mangiza, Rainsome Pavari, Brian Banda, Innocent Mucheneka and goalkeepers Wallace Magalane and Petros Mhari.
Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
