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A BRACE from forgotten striker Donald Ngoma helped moneybags FC Platinum to win the first edition of the Zvishavane Castle Lager derby as they overcame seasoned campaigners Shabanie Mine at Maglas yesterday

The derby, which had generated a lot of hype in this town, saw the 21-year-old Donald “Dombo” Ngoma scoring twice as he started his first match since the team gained promotion.
Ngoma was at the centre of the controversy that erupted between FC Platinum and Chapungu United who challenged the miners’ success story in Division One last year.

A throw-in from Khumbulani Banda, who had a good afternoon, caught Shabanie defenders ball-watching allowing Ngoma to place the ball past Roy Mazingi with a simple header in the 20th minute.
He then completed his brace after the breather in the 54th minute.
FC Platinum skipper Zephaniah Ngodzo whipped in a cross that found substitute Raymond Sibanda.

Sibanda had all the time to control the ball as there was no maroon shirt in sight and his fine pass was connected by Ngoma whose right footer beat a diving Mazingi.
FC Platinum had earlier taken the lead through Charles Sibanda who scored from the penalty spot.

It was the third penalty for the miners in a home match in three games.
Shabanie defender Boniface Dimanji handled under pressure and Mutare referee Masimba Chihowa, who had a good day in the office in this tense match, pointed to the spot.

Sibanda converted with Mazingi reacting a shade too slow to save the effort.
But the day belonged to Ngoma who grabbed the headlines last season after he was accused of signing two contracts for different teams using different surnames in 2009.

He allegedly signed for Super Dynamo using the name Simbarashe Dombo but signed for Mimosa as Donald Ngoma.
Yesterday, Ngoma was the star of the show and he dedicated his brace to his late coach Benjamin Moyo.
“The two goals I scored, I dedicate them to my late coach Benjamin Moyo and my current coaches.

“I am happy with my performance and the confidence that my coaches have shown in me and I am going to deliver more,” he said.

Shabanie Mine had themselves to blame as they could have gone into the lead as early as the ninth minute when Caleb Masocha got a good a chance after Daniel Veremu slipped in a bid to clear.

The striker came face-to-face with Tafadzwa Dube but he shot straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Junius Chizororo was next on line to miss when Shabanaie caught the FC Platinum defence napping but, with the goalkeeper at his mercy, he blasted wide.

As if it was the order of the day for Shabanie Mine, Artwell Nona blazed yet another effort in the 87th minute when he failed to do justice to Masocha’s cross.

Masocha, the former Lancashire Steel defender, then made amends when he got the face-saver in the 90th minute.
A flick into the box by Chizororo saw Masocha releasing a blistering shot that beat Dube all systems out.

FC Platinum caretaker Philani Mabhena was a happy man.
“It was a difficult game as derbies are always hard. My team still need to work hard to come up with the best performance.

“There is, however, a lot of progress and I am satisfied with the way my players are playing.
“I want to thank the fans for the wonderful support and for the fantastic performance from Dombo,” he said
Shabanie caretaker coach Arnold Jani said they paid a big price for the missed chances.

“We wasted a lot of chances although we played well. I want to thank the fans for the support and I will work hard with my strikers before our next game against Kiglon, ” he said.

A minute of silence was observed in honour of Moyo and the two teams wore black armbands.
Teams
Shabanie Mine:
R Mazingi, D Matsveru (A Nyoni 38th min) S.Shoko, P Marime, C Masocha, S Ndlovu (E.Bakacheza 86th min) B Dimanji, L Chisunga, J Chitereki, T Mareya,T  Mombeshora (J Chizororo 52nd min)
FC Platinum
T Dube, K Banda, Z Ngodzo, D Veremu, C Sibanda, B Ncube (R. Sibanda 50th min), T. Kamusoko, M. Mupera, N Togara, D Ngoma,B Marere (J Ngodzo 57th min).