FC Platinum………….(0) 2 Highlanders……………….0
FC Platinum new head coach Rahman Gumbo made a remarkable return to domestic football after six years with a deserved win over Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Mandava Stadium on Wednesday.
The reigning Soccer Star of the Year Charles Sibanda broke the hearts of Bosso fans with a 48th minute strike before Donald Ngoma sealed the scoring in the 88th minute with a glancing header that beat Lovemore Makwavarara in goals for Bosso all systems out.
The win saw the platinum miners maintaining pressure on log leaders Motor Action who were held to a goalless draw by visiting Hwange at Motor Action Sports Club on Wednesday.
The three points take the platinum miners’ tally to 23 — two points behind Mighty Bulls.
Sibanda became the first FC Platinum player to score a goal at new venue Mandava Stadium, that has been under extensive renovations for the past six months since the team gained promotion into top-flight league.
The nippy player scored with his left foot from a free-kick after he was brought down outside the penalty box by Highlanders defender Innocent Mapuranga. Up stepped Sibanda to beat Makwavarara from the kick.
The match had started at a fast pace with both clubs creating scoring chances in the first quarter of the game, but all the strikers went to sleep as the ball was played mainly at the back or in the middle of the park.
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Highlanders’ Vincent Nzombe, Eric Mudzingwa and Misheck Mburayi dominated the first half but Tafadzwa Dube managed to deal with a number of their raids.
Apart from that there was little action in the first half. After the breather FC Platinum came back transformed with Sibanda stealing the show in the middle.
He started holding on to the ball, dribbling past defenders, which saw him being brought down in the 48th minute leading to the free kick he later converted.
Bosso reorganised themselves after that damage but failed to make a breakthrough as FC Platinum defence marshalled by veteran defender Norman Togara was equal to the attacks.
It was in the dying minutes of the game that Highlanders’ defence failed to deal with a cross that beat Makwavarara who seemed to have been pushed off the ball and allowed Ngoma to node it home to make it 2-0 for the home side.
Gumbo meant business as Simon Njeleza who came in as substitute was pulled out after five minutes for Alex Marime. Gumbo said Njeleza had not played according to the game plan. Such is Gumbo’s seriousness.
After the match, Gumbo said he was not talking about winning the championship yet as there was still a lot of work for him to do.
“I have been out of touch with local football for six years. I need time to adjust. I am happy with the team that I found in place but I can tell you we are still a long way from becoming a complete team,” Gumbo added.
