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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter—
How Mine 0 – 0 FC Platinum—
THE match might have ended in a stalemate but fans enjoyed every minute of it as How Mine and FC Platinum coaches laid bare their tactical shrewdness at Luveve Stadium yesterday. For the home team coach, Kelvin Kaindu felt it was two points lost while his counterpart Norman Mapeza said he had gained

a massive point.

One could only but marvel at the way the two coaches tried to outsmart each other. In one of those daring tactical moves Kaindu took out towering central defender Victor Kamhuka, replacing him with Praise Tonha, four minutes before the breather.

“We felt we were coming short there as our opponents’ midfielders were able to run behind our central midfielders and the stabilised the department,” said Kaindu after the match.

How Mine had their first chance in the 21st minute when Charles Sibanda shook off a tame challenge on the left side but instead of laying the ball to his two better-positioned colleagues, Pasca Manhanga and Kuda Musharu, he chose to go for glory but missed the target.

Two minutes later, Rodwell Chinyengetere broke How Mine’s offside trap and charged towards goal. He got into the box and upon noticing a drawn out Munyaradzi Diya cleverly chipped the ball over the goalkeeper, and over the bar. The former Hwange skipper was back again asking questions in the home side’s penalty box a minute later but this time his attack was well dealt with. In the 34th minute, Tarisai Rukanda shook his head in disbelief as his shot went agonisingly wide.

The visitors kept on pilling pressure but How Mine were resolute in defence where skipper Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Quadr Amini, Kudzai Chideu and Tonha stood resolute.

It was 0-0 at halftime.

The second half saw Mapeza taking out Rukanda for winger Marshal Mudewe in the 49th minute. Kaindu quickly read the plan and also pulled out Manhanga for Toto Banda. In the 52nd minute, How Mine’s Sibanda found himself face to face with Petros Mhari, in goal for FC Platinum but he was too slow to tap the ball in with the How Mine bench up.

Second assistant referee Faith Mloyi flagged up in the 60th minute and indicated for a foul on goalkeeper Mhari by Banda who had put the ball into the net.

“It might be difficult for me to comment from the angle where we were but in Africa such goals are always disallowed but in Europe it’s an undeniable goal,” said Kaindu after the match.

As the gold miners kept on piling pressure, Sibanda skied his effort from inside the box having been sent through by Thembani Masuku in the 69th minute.

In one of their rare second half attacks, FC Platinum’s Walter Musona could have put his side into the lead in the 74th minute but missed the upright by inches off a tricky Mudewe cross from the right.

Three minutes before the end, Diya produced a brilliant save when he went airborne to save a rising Mudewe bullet from just outside the box. Mhari produced a similar save two minutes later from substitute Godfrey Nguwodzawo who had replaced Tsepa Ranthokane.

“It was a game of two halves. We did well in the first half but How Mine were all over us in the second, the truth must be told. We are still on the right road. We agreed with the boys that if we fail to pick maximum points, we would rather get one and this point is really massive to us,” said Mapeza.

Kaindu said it was sad that the gap at the top keeps on increasing, even with the draw. “We felt we could have reduced the gap at the top but unfortunately we failed. To us it’s really two points lost,” said Kaindu who is coming from a 0-2 loss to Hwange.

Teams:
How Mine: Munyaradzi Diya Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Quadr Amini, Kudzai Chideu, Victor Kamhuka (Praise Tonha 41st min), Makundika Sakala, Tsepo Ranthokane (Godfrey Nguwodzawo 71st min), Pasca Manhanga (Toto Banda 51st min) Kudakwashe Musharu, Charles Sibanda Thembani Masuku

Unused Subs: Fungai Chirinda, Heritein Masuku, Donovan Bernad

FC Platinum: Petros Mhari, Ian Nekati, Gift Bello, Kelvin Moyo, Elvis Moyo, Nqobizitha Masuku, Rodwell Chinyengetere, Tatenda Dzumbunu, Walter Musona, Tarisai Rukanda (Marshal Mudewe 49th min), Obrey Chirwa

Unused Subs: Francis Tizayi, Raphael Muduviwa, Simon Shoko, Gerald Takwara, Wellington Kamudyariwa

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

Tomorrow: Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro, SuperSport, 3PM)