The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
FC Platinum …………………………1
Yadah ……………………………0
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza has acknowledged the stiffer competition in this year’s Castle Lager Premiership championship race and has reckoned that his charges are now having to play with more caution.
Mapeza saw his champions being stretched by Yadah before grinding out a win via a Devon Chafa penalty after 37 minutes.
The reigning Coach of The Year said their travels to the capital would also be a huge determining factor as Harare currently has seven teams.
“I have been talking much about it this year football is in Harare because with seven clubs in the capital it is very important to come here and get points.
“This is a massive result for us. It was a game of moments because there was a time when we did well and at times they also did well,” said Mapeza.
He noted that Yadah had always given them problems in previous encounters.
The visitors lost Raphael Muduviwa through injury, dealing the defender who had came back from a two months-injury another personal blow.
Mudiviwa landed awkwardly, injuring his shoulder in the process.
In conceding the goal Yadah’s Wellington Kamudyariwa hacked down FC Platinum midfielder Ali Sadiki in the box and veteran chafa stepped up to convert the spot kick.
Kelvin Moyo thought he had headed home the visitors’ second off a Mkhokheli Dube cross but the effort was adjudged offside.
“Our boys did well especially those boys at the back, if we were really decisive in our decision making, we could have managed to get a second goal but at the end of the day, I can’t mourn.
“It was not an easy game because we always come here and struggle but I am happy,” Mapeza said.
With 10 minutes left, Yadah upped their game and exerted more pressure but failing to convert their chances.
Their coach Genesis Mangombe, however chose to blame the defeat on the match officials.
“Playing big teams like FC Platinum you don’t expect to see the match officials taking sides.
“By virtue of Platinum playing Yadah, there is a big difference in terms of the quality of players and everything then adding on the officials’ bias, now it is not football.
“It is one of those things that actually killed our game and I do not think we deserved to lose this game.
“We played very well, according to our game plan, we matched them but the referees decided otherwise,” Mangombe said.
Yadah: I. Ali; Z. Biseki (C. Mutero 67’); B. Madzokere; A. Makopa; B. Chikwenya; N. Mhlanga; W. Kamudyariwa; L. Mavunga; R. Matema ( P. Kafelapanjila 84’); J. Sibanda; I. Sadiki (M. Musiyakuvi 65’)
FC Platinum: P. Mhari; R.Muduviwa ( G. Murwira 17’), G.Bello; K.Moyo; E. Moyo, K. Madzongwe; N. Tigere; D. Chafa; R. Kutsanzira ( G.Mbweti 64’); A. Sadiki; M. Dube
