The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda in ZVISHAVANE
FC Platinum……………………….(2) 2
Chicken Inn……………………….(1) 1
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza feels his side’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League win over Chicken Inn at Mandava Stadium yesterday could be a huge boost ahead their Chibuku Super Cup final showdown against Ngezi Platinum at the same venue on Sunday.
The league champions notched up their second win of the season in as many matches, courtesy of goals by Innocent Mucheneka and Donald Teguru.
Mucheneka drilled home from close range in the 15th minute after Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and Teguru had both hit the woodwork in a goal mouth melee.
Teguru got it right in the 26th minute when his strike went in via the underside of the bar after weaving his way past the Chicken Inn defence.
It was Mucheneka’s second goal in as many games as the linkman also found the target when FC Platinum knocked Dynamos out of the Chibuku Super Cup last weekend.
Brian Muza pulled one back for the visitors in added time of the first half, heading home Munashe Pini’s corner kick.
“It’s a massive morale booster ahead of the cup final,” Mapeza told the media.
“It was a very good game, but I am not happy with the way we managed the game, especially towards end of the first half.
“Football is about how you manage situations.
“But the most important thing is that we collected the three points.”
FC Platinum have lost only seven league matches at home since Mapeza took over in August 2014.
Only ZPC Kariba (twice), Highlanders, Dynamos, Bulawayo Chiefs and Chicken Inn (twice) have beaten Mapeza’s men in a league assignment at Mandava.
The miners’ gaffer was forced to make an injury-inspired substitution as early as the 11th minute when Kelvin Mangiza was stretchered off after a clash of heads with Passmore Bernard.
Mangiza was replaced by Donald Dzvinyai.
The hosts could have scored a third deep into added time in the opening period when teenage striker Ngwenya did well to shrug off 40-year-old defender Moses Jackson but his effort went wide.
He was fed by substitute Gift Mbweti, who replaced Lawrence Mhlanga, another injury casualty.
And Mapeza felt the two injuries disturbed his team’s rhythm.
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas introduced speedy winger Michael Charamba for Brett Amidu soon after the restart, but it was FC Platinum who nearly found a third when Mucheneka’s header was tipped over by Donovan Bernard.
The Gamecocks had their own chance in the 58th minute, but skipper Petros Mhari punched away Guide Goddard’s dangerous free-kick.
Goddard headed wide a few minutes later after getting to the end of a free-kick by Xolani Ndlovu.
Antipas felt his side gave away soft goals.
“I would say Christmas came early for FC (Platinum).
“Two goals we conceded were a total give-away. Poor decision-making: First goal we had a man down and I don’t know what the rush was about.
“We are a man down and we are trying to slow the game down, but the next thing we lose possession and we are punished.
“Second goal, poor square pass, picked up by FC Platinum, another goal,” Antipas said.
The veteran gaffer feels his Gamecocks have to work on correcting errors but also noted that they came out fighting in the second half.
FC Platinum and Chicken Inn have met 18 times in the league since 2011 when they both made their Premiership debut.
Pure Platinum Play have won seven times, eight games have ended in draws, while Chicken Inn have won on three occasions.
The Gamecocks have won twice at Mandava in nine attempts, their latest league win coming in 2019 when they cruised to a 2-1 victory.
Bulawayo Chiefs coach Nilton Terroso was among the spectators, albeit on a spying mission as his side host the champions in their next league match.
Former Young Warriors star Walter Musona was also part of the spectators amid speculation the striker is angling for a return to FC Platinum.
Teams:
FC Platinum: P. Mhari, R. Kutsanzira, K. Madzongwe, L. Mhlanga (G. Mbweti 21st), K. Mangiza (D. Dzvinyai 11th), R. Pavari, I. Mucheneka, B. Banda, D. Teguru, T. Ngwenya (R. Chinyengetere 76th), P. Mutimbanyoka
Chicken Inn: D. Bernard, G. Goddard (A Chinda 73rd), B. Muza, N. Ketala, M. Jackson, S. Mhlanga, P. Bernard, X. Ndlovu, B. Amidu (M. Charamba 46th), O. Chirinda, M. Pini (M. Gaki 73rd)
