Fresh for their victory in a Champions League away match in Swaziland, FC Platinum transfrmed that form to the Bob'88 Super Cup and soundly beat an in-form Hwange side 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium on a Sunday afternoon, with goals from Mitchel Katsvairo and Allan Gahadzikwa.
New signing Katsvairo opened the scoring early in the second half after the teams were tied 0-0 at half time. Following a defensive mix-up in Hwange's box, Katsvairo sneaked in from behind David Boriwondo to poke the ball beyond Petros Mhari's reach.
It was then left to Allan Gahadzikwa to add a second five minutes from time to complete a complete cup final victory for the platinum miners who beat Green Mamba of Swaziland 4-2 in a CFA Champions League tie only a week ago.
FC Platinum Assistant coach Tendai Chikuni was in charge in the absence of Head coach and now caretaker national team coach Rahaman Gumbo who was travelling with the Warriors to Burundi on the day of the Bob'88 final.
Hwange somehow gifted Platinum the tropgy after two uncharacteristic errors at the back which they lived to rue. Coach Tenant Chilumba is well aware of where they went wrong.
"If you concede silly goals in football I don’t think you can win the match. Otherwise it was a learning curve for the boys.
“They also wanted to win the game and they put in 100 percent," said Chilumba after the match.
Both Hwange and Platinum used the gruelling final as preparations for the reverse fixtures in their respective CAF assignments, but it is Platinum who may pay for the injuries suffered early in the game to key striker Donald Ngoma and to Gahadzikwa later in the game.
Hwange will be at home to Jamhuri of Zanzibar whom they convincingly beat 3-0 in the Confederations Cup first leg of the preliminary round. FC Platinum will welcome Green Mamba to Mandava Stadium next weekend. Both teams are almost through to the next round.
Meanwhile, Motor Action, another Zim club in action in the Confed cup next weekend, beat Dynamos 1-0 in a 3rd place play-off, a match which was a curtain raiser for the final on Sunday. Isaac Madziva scored for the Mighty Bulls in the 55th minute to give his club victory. |