Perfect FC Platinum spring back to life

From Paul Mundandi in ZVISHAVANE

FC Platinum……………… (1)2

Chicken Inn……………… (0)1

ZAMBIAN coach Tennant Chilumba is proving to be just what the doctor ordered for FC Platinum who have suddenly sprung back to life and yesterday they kept alive their flying start to the Castle Lager Premiership title race with a crucial victory at Mandava. 

Having won their first three games, including two away from home, the arrival of a Chicken Inn side who were also unbeaten in three starts and had held champions Dynamos in Harare and beaten CAPS United in the NetOne Charity Shield final, was always going to be a big test.

And a massive test it was, with the game undecided until the final whistle, but FC Platinum showed character to withstand the late rally by the visitors, who benefited from having an extra man after the hosts lost Michelle Katsvairo to an expulsion in the first half.

FC Platinum, who were thrashed 1-4 by Black Mambas in their final game of the season in the same stadium last year, are barely recognisable from that shell and Chilumba has brought some life and there is a spring in their step as they move forward.

Gone is the showmanship that used to be associated with this team and that has been replaced by a serious football organisation that is reaping huge rewards from Chilumba’s technical expertise and the club’s decision to keep assistant coach, Tendai Chikuni, who knows this team well, in the backroom staff.

“We had prepared well and I was looking for maximum points,” said Chilumba who exploded, with raw emotion, when the referee ended the match.

By then, the Zambian had taken off his neat FC Platinum jacket, in the heat of the occasion, as the visitors piled on the pressure from all angles in an entertaining game.

“I want to be on top of every team and when Katsvairo (Mitchell) was given the red card we adjusted and we won the match through endurance. My players are giving 100 percent concentration and it’s just marvellous.”

Four games, four wins, 10 goals, that’s certainly marvellous. Since gaining promotion three years ago, matches involving FC Platinum and the Gamecocks had all ended in draws. But, then, that was before the Chilumba revolution.

The hosts went into the lead as early as the third minute with Charles Sibanda, scoring his second goal of the season, took advantage of a fatal defensive error, side-stepped past outdrawn goalkeeper Liberty Chirava and slotted into an empty net.

But if that goal gave the hosts the advantage, they were soon on the backfoot when Katsvairo was redcarded midway in the first half for a poor and late tackle on Brian Juru.

His intention might have been to clear the ball but he got it all wrong and Zvishavane-based referee, Rugare Kusosa, decided it was worth an expulsion although that will be debated for a long time to come. It was Katsvairo’s first red card in his professional career.

Goalkeeper Petros Mhari then come to the rescue of the home team as Chicken Inn took advantage of their numerical advantage. Tendai Ndoro, who was a menace on the right wing, won possession and powered a shot that Mhari managed to push out for a corner.

Sibanda then saw Chirava push his effort out for a corner in the 38th minute. After the break, FC Platinum got the insurance goal when dead ball specialist Ali Sadiki, picked his spot to perfection and his floated effort curled beautifully into the far corner.

A day after another fine free-kick at Maglas, Mandava had their moment to savour after Sadiki’s beauty. Ndoro should have pulled one back for the visitors on the stroke of the hour mark when he found space inside the box, went past the defence and then, somehow, shot wide.

Mkhokheli Dube then had a chance, two minutes later, but his effort was saved by Mhari. Chicken Inn were a different team when coach Mandla Mpofu introduced the gifted Kudakwashe Mahachi, whose fancy footwork proved too much for the hosts to handle.

It was Mahachi, who was upended in the box, in the 90th minute, and Ndoro sent Mhari the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick. That produced a period of sustained pressure for the visitors but the hosts held on for a priceless victory.

Chicken Inn coach, Mpofu, was very disappointed after suffering his first loss of the season in the same stadium they won the NetOne Charity Shield.

“I am not happy and everyone is disappointed,” said Mhari, who wore a shirt that had Adam Ndlovu’s face splashed on its front part, as the Bulawayo side continue to pay tribute to the late coach who shaped Chicken Inn to what it is today.

“I wanted maximum points but some of these things are found in football. We’re playing good football but it’s the final pass that is letting us down but I’m happy for Mahachi.

“He is just brilliant and it was unfortunate we lost. Everytime he gets hold of the ball you know something is going to happen and he is one the best players in Zimbabwe at the moment. This game is over and is now history and we’re focusing on the Monomotapa match.” The Herald

Teams:

FC Platinum: P Mhari,D Veremu,E Moyo,K Moyo,R Muduviwa,T Kamusoko,W Mhango,A Sadiki,M Katsvairo,C Sibanda(D Ngoma 91st), N Maziwisa.

Chicken Inn: L Chirava,M Jackson,G Goddard,Z Ngodzo,B Mbiriri,D Phiri,T Ndoro,C Nkomo(C Kamhapa 69th),B Juru(L Mpofu 83rd ),T Chimenya,M Dube.