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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League championship favourites FC Platinum stretched their 2016 unbeaten run to seven games, taking their points tally to 19, five ahead of second placed Highlanders following their impressive 3-0 win against Border Strikers.

The Norman Mapeza-coached platinum miners have been in terrific form, going for 28 Premiership games without losing, with their last defeat being a 0-1 defeat to Dynamos on May 10, 2015.

Since then, FC Platinum have gone to win 18 matches, drawing 10.

With Highlanders and Caps United dropping points at the weekend following respective draws against Harare City and ZPC Kariba, FC Platinum who went for the weekend game with a three-point lead widened the gap to five.

On Saturday, a brace by Obrey Chirwa and a goal by defender Elvis Moyo saw FC Platinum becoming the first team to hit winless Strikers by more than two goals.

Despite enjoying a fine run and being early championship favourites, FC Platinum’s defensive midfielder Winston Mhango who has been a vital cog in the miners’ drive says it’s early days to talk about the title race.

“We’re just enjoying our game and we’re happy to be winning. We work hard to improve on the mistakes that we make. The good thing is that everyone’s confidence levels are high and players are giving their best at training so that they make it into the starting team and that pushes everyone to work harder. As for the championship, it’s a marathon, we don’t want to put ourselves under unnecessary pressure by thinking about it and the wise thing to do is to take each match at a time and see how the season progresses,” Mhango said.

On Thursday FC Platinum comes to Bulawayo for their second visit of the year to face bruised How Mine who lost 0-2 away to Hwange.

FC Platinum should be wary of How Mine who were the first club to stop Caps United’s five-match unbeaten run, beating the Green Machine 2-1 at Luveve Stadium on Week Six. That victory came after the gold miners had been handed a shock 0-1 away loss to Mutare City.

Another fact that should make FC Platinum cautious in their visit to Bulawayo is that How Mine are yet to lose while playing in the City of Kings this season.

How Mine also should be careful of FC Platinum who are good on the road, having won all their three away games against Highlanders (2-1), Ngezi Platinum and Dynamos whom they beat by identical 1-0 scorelines.

While FC Platinum fortified their championship hopes, second placed Highlanders could have been felt hard done by second assistant referee Emmanuel Mugwagwa who denied them what appeared a genuine goal, ruling a late Simon Munawa effort offside in their 1-1 draw with Harare City.

It was a third time this season at Barbourfields Stadium for a second assistant referee to erroneously rule out a goal. On Week Three Tsholotsho had a goal ruled out by the linesman in their 1-2 loss to Highlanders while Bulawayo City also had far side referee Nyarai Chirwa denying them a goal against Bosso on Week Four in a match which ended 1-1.

Harare City who had more scoring opportunities than Bosso were relieved with the point. Indecision at the final third cost Harare City a victory.

Bosso clearly missed injured Bruce Kangwa and young striker Prince Dube while Rahman Kutsanzira and Erick Mudzingwa were some of Highlanders’ outstanding players.

How Munawa continues to be part of the starting lineup when in almost every match that he plays strays off position, exposing his defence has agitated fans, demonstrated by their continued jeering directed at the player.

Munawa’s recovery has also been poor and after drawing him off position, Harare City penetrated through the centre making Mudzingwa and Felix Chindungwe work overtime in defence while Kutsanzira and King Nadolo were also forced to cover for Munawa.

Caps United who were held to a 2-2 draw by ZPC Kariba return to Bulawayo tomorrow barely two weeks after their visit which saw their five-match unbeaten run bubble bursting when they lost 1-2 to How Mine.

Caps United will face Chicken Inn who finally found the winning formulae after going for 320 minutes without a victory. Chicken Inn beat Mutare City 1-3 at Sakubva, handing Rahman Gumbo his first win since taking over from Joey Antipas who has signed for South Africa’s AmaZulu.

Tafadzwa Kutinyu, George Majika and Edmore Chirambadare were on target for Chicken Inn while Kuda Gurure got the consolation goal for Mutare City.

Before Mutare City’s game, Chicken Inn last victory was on Week Two when they laboured to a 1-0 win over Strikers. That was followed by a 0-0 draw with How Mine and three defeats to ZPC Kariba, Bulawayo City and Triangle United.

Meanwhile, Dynamos were the most relieved side as they beat Tsholotsho 1-0 at Barbourfields through a penalty converted by Ocean Mushure.

Tsholotsho had a good game but failed to make use of their dominance, leading to the former champions returning to the capital with maximum points.

The victory lifted Dynamos from position 15 to 12 tied on eight points with Harare City, draw specialists Bulawayo City and Ngezi Platinum.

Tsholotsho will hope to bounce back with a victory tomorrow against league’s whipping boys Border Strikers at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane while Ngezi Platinum who held Chapungu to a 1-1 draw face Bulawayo City at Barbourfields tomorrow.

Results

Saturday: FC Platinum 3-0 Border Strikers, Tsholotsho FC 0-1 Dynamos, Chapungu 1-1 Ngezi Platinum Stars, Caps United 2-2 ZPC Kariba

Sunday: Mutare City Rovers 1-3 Chicken Inn, Triangle United 1-1 Bulawayo City, Hwange 2-0 How Mine, Highlanders 1-1 Harare City

Week Eight Fixtures

Tomorrow: Bulawayo City v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Barbourfields), ZPC Kariba v Hwange (Nyamhunga), Border Strikers v Tsholotsho FC (Maglas), Chicken Inn v Caps United (Luveve), Triangle United v Mutare City Rovers (Gibbo)

Thursday: How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve)

Friday: Harare City v Chapungu (Rufaro, SuperSport, 3PM)

Saturday: Dynamos v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium, SuperSport, 3PM)