ZPC KARIBA . . . . . . . 0 FC PLATINUM . . . . . . 0
HENRY MHARA
ZPC Kariba’s unbeaten run stretched to five games with yet another polished performance to earn a point against FC Platinum in a Castle Premiership football match at Gwanzura Stadium yesterday.
The match was one of the tough games for the league debutants’ in these early stages of the season where they have already dealt with league champions Dynamos, Caps United, Harare City and Buffaloes.
While many expected them to falter in these matches, the start merely provided the unfashionable side from Kariba with a platform to prove their credentials as this season’s surprise package.
Compliments have been coming thick and fast before yesterday’s match, with victories over Dynamos and Harare City, and draws against Caps and Buffaloes included in that marvellous run of games.
Yesterday’s draw took ZPC Kariba’s points tally to nine and they spent last night as joint log leaders although that is likely to change after today’s round of matches.
The team’s coach Saul Chaminuka is obviously impressed: “I am happy with the team’s performance and the fighting spirit. We are in the right direction, but I am worried about fatigue as my players are always on the road. We play our home games in Harare so all our games are away. Our main target is to survive relegation but if they allow us to win the championship, why not?” Chaminuka quipped in a post-match interview. FC Platinum’s frustrations at the poor start to their season were exposed by their head coach Lloyd Mutasa yesterday who confronted the match officials at the final whistle, alleging biased refereeing.
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He however refused to comment on the performance of the officials when asked to justify his actions. Instead, he blamed his strikers for failing to convert the chances his team created.
The well-resourced side are eighth on the log with six points.
The hosts began on the front foot as one would expect from a team high on confidence, but it was the visitors who created the better chances.
Platinum’s Mitchelle Katsvairo had a goal disallowed for an offside after 25 minutes before Donald Ngoma rattled the upright three minutes later with a long range effort. At the other end, Pride Tafirenyika shot straight at the goalkeeper when afforded space inside the box.
Wisdom Mutasa wasted another good opportunity for FC Platinum when he skied his effort just after the half hour mark but their best chance would arrive on 50th minute when Katsvairo neatly brought down a cross to come face to face with the keeper, but he dragged his shot horribly wide.
As the final seconds ticked past, FC Platinum were clearly the better side and almost scored a winner, but Katsvairo’s shot ricocheted off the post. Despite the late pressure, ZPC Kariba managed to hold on for a precious point.
