FC Platinum will have to quickly put behind the Sunday horror which saw them crashing out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup at the hands of Dynamos, as they clash with an unpredictable Monomotapa side in a Castle Lager Premier League match at Gwanzura Stadium this afternoon.
The ambitious Zvishavane side were humbled 1-0 by the Harare giants, a result that saw their dream of clinching a double in their maiden season slipping away.
However, the platinum miners who lead the table with 52 points, three above second-placed Dynamos with three games to go, will obviously find solace in winning today’s match.
FC Platinum secretary-general Philemon Muvengwa yesterday admitted his club was disappointed after the confidence-sapping defeat to Dynamos, but said that had not distracted them from their chief target, the league title.
“We have done away with that. We have moved on. Our main target has been to win the title, and I’m sure we are well on course to achieving that.
“We were disappointed after losing the Sunday match, but we have to remain composed and focused in the remaining league matches,” said Muvengwa.
The dejected team arrived in the capital yesterday without injured Thabani Kamusoko.
“Kamusoko picked up an injury on Sunday and he will not be part of the team tomorrow (today). The players are obviously tired, but we have tried to give them enough rest and hopefully they will be fit for the match.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“Monomotapa will be a very tough opponent because just like all the other teams, they want to finish the league strongly. We will have to do our best to win the match,” added Muvengwa.
Relegation-threatened Monoz, on the other hand, will just have to win this match to be safe.
The Taurai Mangwiro-coached side are seating precariously on 10th position with 32 points, just four points above Shabanie Mine who occupy the relegation cut-off point.
“There is a talk that we will want to do a favour to Dynamos because of our strong backgrounds there. It’s not like that, for us it’s more to do with survival than anything else.
If we win, fair and fine, Dynamos will have an advantage, but for us the most important thing is to avoid relegation,” said Mangwiro.
The Monomotapa technical team is dominated by former Dynamos players, with Mangwiro, assistant coach Nkululeko Dhlamini and team manager Clayton Munemo having all made their names playing for the Harare giants.
Monoz will get into battle without five of their regular players. Knowledge Machona, Hillary Mugoniwa, Blessing Chimwamuchere, Blessing Bizzerk are out injured while winger Russel Madamombe is suspended after accumulating three yellow cards.
