Ngezi Platinum began yet another title onslaught with a victory over promoted Herentals in their opening match of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season at Baobab Stadium in Mhondoro/ Ngezi yesterday.
By Henry Mhara in Mhondoro/Ngezi Ngezi Platinum…… (0) 2 Herentals……………….0
The platinum miners, who looked like they would be champions last year before a dramatic loss of form with three games left, have publicly declared that they want the title this term.
They looked a team determined to right the wrongs from the previous campaign, and they flew out of the blocks in yesterday’s match with Tichaona Mabvura netting just three minutes into the match, a goal that was controversially disallowed for offside.
But there was no denying Walter Mukanga, who side-footed home from a cross in the 67th minute to open the scoring before right-back Keith Murera made sure of maximum points three minutes from time against a side who battled long and hard.
The visiting team fielded club owner Innocent Benza in the starting 11. Benza, who turns 45 later this year, did very little to justify his presence on the field.
That he played a whole 78 minutes before he was substituted for his son Tino Benza made a mockery of the domestic game.
Ngezi Platinum coach Tonderai Ndiraya was happy with the win, but disappointed with his team’s performance.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“It’s the start of the season and I expected my team to be a bit slow because of match fitness issues. We played here for a result and that we got, but in terms of perfomance, I’m not impressed by all the departments of my team. I want to credit Herentals for coming here and putting up such a performance from a side that just got promoted to give us a good run. We collected maximum points, which is a good start and good encouragement,” said Ndiraya.
Herentals coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva said despite the defeat, he was encouraged by his team’s showing.
He also defended his decision to field Benza, the Harare businessman who looked determined to set a record of being the oldest player to play in the domestic top-flight league more than anything else.
“Looking at our opponents and the fact that it’s our first game in the league, the performance was good for the boys. They put up a good fight and my team created better chances than our opponents. We created chances, two one-on-one with the goalkeeper, so it’s a plus that we created those chances, but the minus is that we failed to put them away,” he said.
On Benza, he said: “He plays on merit, he is a hard worker. He comes for sessions and if you saw his touches, he makes a difference in the team, particularly with his passing and creativity.”
It’s difficult to think that Benza’s teammates, who had to work twice to make up for their boss, who spent most of the time literally walking on the field, would agree with their coach’s sentiments.
To their credit though, the new boys put up a good show and had two good chances early on, but Juan Mutudza failed to beat Donovan Bernard from one-on-one situations. Mutudza was substituted in the first half, apparently as punishment for missing those two chances.
