Mapeza’s Platinum record slender win

 

FC Platinum —-(1)1

Chegutu Pirates —(0)0

 

Innocent Muchochomi in Zvishavane

Striker Juan Mutudza’s early goal enabled Fc to Platinum to register a slender 1-0 win when they hosted newsboys Chegutu Pirates at Mandava Stadium in a Premier Soccer League season opener played in Zvishavane on Saturday.

Mutudza complimented a cross from outstanding Davison Marowa with a cracker that jerked the sizeable crowd from their seats.

After FC Platinum grabbed the goal they dominated possession displaying exciting football and could have increased the tally but Pirate’s rearguard stood their ground.

After the breather, the Pirates came more willfully seeking to level the score but fluffed to convert the chances they got.

In a post-match interview, FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza said he was glad with the narrow win.

“I’m happy for the boys. I’m sure we will get better in the next game.

Mapeza did not mince his words as he castigated his charges’ bluntness for failing to score from numerous corner kicks they got.

“We were not sharp. If you look we managed to have many corner kicks but the quality was not there at all.

” That’s what we expect from these first games but the most important thing is to manage positive results and gel up as we go.

“We created chances and our opponents had their moments as well but as I said it’s the first game of the season and we will work till we get to a better point.

“At times you have to look at the results not performance,” said Mapeza.

Chegutu Pirates gaffer Emmanuel “Ras Day” Gutu who fielded a makeshift team after complications that surfaced while registering players, was also elated with the outcome.

Pirates had only 14 players and no substitute goalkeeper.

“I’m happy. I can not complain considering it’s our first game playing away from home against a team that was crowned Zimbabwe soccer champions four times and that I also depleted side.

“It’s not a bad result. I think we fared well.

“It’s only that we lost concentration early and we got reprimanded for that.

“At this stage, there is no room for errors but tactically we are coming up and technically my boys are sound.”

Although delighted, Gutu admitted that the Premier League is not an easy walk.

“Premier league has shown us that it’s not a bed of roses.

“Going forward we are going to rectify our errors and I’m sure we will get there.”