NEVER have FC Platinum gone into a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League derby against Shabanie Mine at their weakest.
MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
Fine, they have the same number of points-19, but Shabanie Mine are a place better off in ninth place, having won five games, one more than the well-resourced and professionally-managed Platinum and have even scored more goals — 17 against 16.
But there you have it. It will be at 3pm. The battlelines have been drawn and the stage has been set for a fiery encounter.
The duo has met six times in the league since 2011 with today’s host FC Platinum claiming three wins of those duels, losing once and sharing the spoils twice.
Last year, Shabanie humbled FC Platinum twice 1-0 in the league and 5-3 on penalty shootouts in the BancABC Sup8r Cup final. Pure Platinum Play then edged the former asbestos miners 1-0 in the latter half of last season in the league.
The hosts rediscovered their stride once again in their last meeting with their neighbours with a 4-1 demolition in the C G Msipa charity match in pre-season.
But the Chinda Boys have exhibited a certain degree of arrogance in the league this season, claiming an illustrious unbeaten run at their home ground which was only relinquished last week against Buffaloes in the energy-sapping 1-2 loss.
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Both coaches are primed for the duel, but will miss some of their key players who have either left the club or are unavailable due to injury and suspensions.
Ralph Kawondera, the FC Platinum assistant coach, is likely to go it alone again as his boss Lloyd Mutasa is still committed with a CAF A coaching course in the capital.
“Playing against Shabanie is always difficult because it is a derby. But we are playing at home and it gives us an advantage. We play all our matches to win and we are confident we will get a positive result.
“We have already played a number of games without some of these players and we have been doing well. We have enough depth to cover all departments, but as coaches we would have loved to have all our players available for selection ahead of a big match,” Kawondera said.
Shabanie coach John Phiri will have to contend without his talismanic midfielder Daniel Chakupe and Hardlife Mavundi who have left the club.
“Daniel and Hardlife have left us. Their departure has affected our preparations negatively, but we will have to do with what we have and those who will get the chance to play are good enough to get a positive result at Mandava.
“We will go into the game aiming for a win, we are not concentrating on previous results tomorrow’s [today] match is a new game all together and we are ready to make our fans happy,” Phiri said.
