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FC Platinum beat Shabanie

Sport
Shabanie Mine …………………(0) 1 FC Platinum …………………….(2) 3 A Donald Ngoma brace settled an otherwise lukewarm Zvishavane derby as FC Platinum cruised to their fourth Castle Lager Premier Soccer League victory at Maglas Stadium on Thursday. Platinum moved into fourth place with 12 points following the win and are one point behind leaders Caps United. […]

Shabanie Mine …………………(0) 1 FC Platinum …………………….(2) 3

A Donald Ngoma brace settled an otherwise lukewarm Zvishavane derby as FC Platinum cruised to their fourth Castle Lager Premier Soccer League victory at Maglas Stadium on Thursday.

Platinum moved into fourth place with 12 points following the win and are one point behind leaders Caps United.

Ngoma struck in the 20th and 54th minutes after Charles Sibanda had given the visitors the lead after just six minutes from the penalty spot.

Shabanie’s consolation arrived at the death, Caleb Masocha hitting the back of the net.

Platinum players wore black armbands in honour of their late head coach Benjamin Moyo, who died under mysterious circumstances in Shurugwi on April 22 and a minute of silence was also observed before the start of the match.

An estimated 2 000 fans watched the game, where all sorts of abuse was hurled at Platinum officials throughout the match with accusations of referee-buying being levelled against them.

Missiles also rained on the pitch in the 40th minute when Masocha was pushed off the ball in the box and fans at the main Shabanie stand demanded a penalty from referee Masimba Chihowa who stood his ground.

Platinum’s Bheki Ncube, already on a yellow card, hacked down Boniface Dimanji outside the centre circle three minutes before the breather and when he was not sent off, tension escalated, mostly between the two teams’ fans.

Ncube was eventually pulled out in the 50th minute. Platinum acting head coach Philani Mabhena was satisfied with the result, but said there was still more work to be done.

“It was a difficult game, but I am happy we managed to get the three points. We did not put up the best performance that we wanted as we had some lapses here and there. So we need to work hard on that ahead of the game against Blue Ribbon,” he said in his post-match interview.

Arnold Jani, also in an acting capacity as Shabanie head coach, blamed his strikers and the referee for the defeat.

“We created a lot of chances, but we failed to take them. But some of the referee’s decisions were also bad,” he said.

Six minutes into the game Ngoma came face to face with Shabanie goalkeeper Roy Mazingi but failed to convert before Johane Chisunga rammed the ball wide in response at the other end.

Masocha had the best chance, benefiting from a Daniel Vheremu fall as he tried to clear the ball, but Tafadzwa Dube, picked ahead of regular number one Muranganwa Nengomasha, came out to smother the attack.

But 11 minutes into the game, Dimanji handled in the box and Sibanda coolly converted from the spot. It was 2-0 after 20 minutes after Ngoma flicked the ball into the nets with Mazingi wrongfooted by his sleeping defenders.

The game was over as a contest in the 54th minute when substitute Ray Sibanda crossed into the box for the on-rushing Ngoma to complete his double.

Masocha then slammed home in the 90th minute from close range as Platinum took home the bragging rights from their first Premiership derby.