The Sunday Mail
Ngezi Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1
Langton Nyakwenda in Ngezi
NGEZI PLATINUM coach Tonderai Ndiraya was the first to admit that this win at the Baobab yesterday wasn’t easy on the eye. However, Ndiraya was not complaining after breaking a four-game winless run and handing FC Platinum their first defeat of this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.
“Admittedly, it wasn’t a very smart win, but what is important was for us as a team to get back to winning ways,” said the home side’s gaffer. “We are very happy. What a way to end that bad spell with a win against FC Platinum, a very good Platinum side at that. “We knew these guys were very good offensively, especially when moving the ball around and had to come up with a game plan.”
Goals either side of the halftime whistle by Donald Teguru and Tatenda Mchisa handed Ngezi Platinum maximum points, while Brett Amidu scored the visitors’ consolation. A combination of injury and national team commitments forced Ndiraya into making changes and the Ngezi coach was impressed with how the juggling worked out.“We were missing about eight players and some of them very key for us, and if you can field another team and beat FC Platinum then that shows you have depth in your squad.
“We have assembled a very good team and I think this team will win more games in the future and take this team forward,” he said. FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza felt his side conceded soft goals.
“If you look at the first goal, the goalkeeper (Petroes Mhari) was supposed to come out for the ball, and then the second one came from the blind side. However, I do think that it was a good game of football but in terms of our standards we did not really do well,” he said.
Marshal Mudehwe was so poor for FC Platinum that his coach hauled him off before the half-time whistle.
“When we put a player like that out there, we will be expecting something from him. If he doesn’t deliver, then there is no reason to keep him out there and we take him out,” explained Mapeza.
Once again FC Platinum missed several gilt edged chances but their coach reckons most clubs face the same misfiring problem. “It’s a crisis in the whole country, but I don’t think we need to put the burden on the strikers alone The midfield should also chip; when they get an opportunity, they should bury it,” said Mapeza.
Ngezi Platinum: N Chadya, Q Amini, D Mukandi, M Phiri, D Teguru (M Kwinjo, 93’), X Moyo, K Murera, D Tavari, T Mabvura, G Murwira, T Mchisa (K Bulaji, 58’)
FC Platinum: P Mhari, R Muduviwa, W Stima, K Moyo, I Nekati, W Mhango, N Masuku (B Amidu, 72’), R Chinyengetere, C Sibanda, M Mudehwe (I Wadii, 44’), G Mbweti (B Muzondiwa, 61’)
