AFTER two debilitating losses in a row in five days, 2013 Premier Soccer League title hopefuls FC Platinum have embarked on yet another tricky assignment when they host unyielding Harare City at Mandava Stadium on Saturday.
Report by Sports Reporter
Platinum lost 1-0 to head coach Tennant Chilumba’s former paymasters Hwange last Thursday in their backyard before succumbing to another 2-1 defeat to Caps United at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The two defeats plunged the Zvishavane-based outfit from the pole position to position four, five points off pacesetters Highlanders.
Platinum started the league on a high note with three straight wins beating Buffaloes 2-1 in Mutare, How Mine 4-1 at Mandava and another 2-1 win against Chicken Inn at home before hotshot 2012 Castle Lager top goal-scorer Nelson Mazivisa fizzled out.
After that it was a bag of mixed fortunes for the platinum miners after they fell 1-0 to neighbours Shabanie Mine and claiming a 3-1 victory against strugglers Triangle.
Platinum held champions DeMbare to a 2-2 draw at Rufaro before edging another struggling side Tripple B 1-0 at Mandava.
That win was followed by two draws to pacesetters Highlanders in a goalless stalemate at Mandava before another 1-1 draw with Monomotapa in Harare before the last two defeats.
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The return of Charles Sibanda, who was in Malawi with the Warriors for an Africa Day friendly match at the weekend, could be a boost for Platinum.
Their opponents, Harare City, have been on fire with former Monomotapa striker Osborne Mukuradare, who has banged in seven goals so far.
City are third on the log standings with 21 points.
Ahead of Saturday’s game, the Bigboy Mawiwi-coached Harare City held DeMbare to a goalless draw and then dismissed basement side Tripple B 2-0. City were the biggest spenders in pre-season, signing 13 new players.
Another exciting Premiership battle is in the offing on Sunday in Zvishavane where resurgent Luke Masomere’s Shabanie Mine host How Mine at Maglas.
The former asbestos miners piled on Buffaloes’ woes with a 3-1 win in Mutare on Sunday before a 2-0 victory over Black Rhinos last Tuesday at Maglas.
They meet How Mine, still smarting from two defeats in four days after they lost 1-0 to Black Mambas at Morris Depot last Wednesday before another 1-0 loss to Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.
Fixtures Saturday FC Platinum v Harare City (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Black Mambas (Luveve), Triangle v Buffaloes (Gibbo), Tripple B v Motor Action (Dulibadzimu), Monomotapa v Caps United *SS9 (Rufaro) 1400hrs Sunday Dynamos v Black Rhinos * SS9 (Rufaro) 1400hrs, Hwange v Highlanders (Colliery), Shabanie Mine v How Mine (Maglas)
