Chapungu boot FCP out of Chibuku Cup

FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2 Chapungu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2

(Chapungu won 5-4 on penalties) PHILLIP “General” Marufu converted the last penalty to boot FC Platinum out of the Chibuku Super Cup for the second year running.

Last year, Chapungu defeated FC Platinum 1-0 at Mandava Stadium and yesterday, at the same venue nue they needed penalties to boot their Midlands dlands rivals out of the country’s most rewarding arding club competition.

Central l defender Blessed Mbavarira was in top form rm at the heart of defence for the Airforce side and capped his fine afternoon with a classic ssic penalty conversion.

All the takers for Chapungu converted their penalties, alties, the trio of Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Xolani Ncube cube and Edmore Muzanenhamo also scored. d.

For FC Platinum only midfield workhorse Farai Madhanhanga dhanhanga missed his, while the quartet of f Rodwell Chinyengetere, William Stima, Kelvin vin Moyo and Never Tigere scored.

In regulation lation time Osborne Mukuradare and Muzanenhamo anenhamo scored for Chapungu while Moyo yo and Mkhokheli Dube scored for the league champions to take the match to penalties.

The miners’ ners’ chances of a league and cup double e were ended, leaving coach Norman Mapeza with his work cut out to win the title and take something into the team’s trophy rophy cabinet.

But at the he fi final nal whistle the gaffer put in a brave face saying their demotion was part of the game.

“I am not disappointed, it is part of the game and congratulations ions to Chapungu. I wish them m well in the quarterquarterfinals,” said Mapeza.

Before the he breather there was a somewhat at bizarre decision by referee Artwell Mazire to send Chapungu ungu gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama to o the stands for his involvement t in the matchaffer matchball scuffle.

But the gaffer was happy with progression ssion and said the refereeing ing decision was water under the bridge.

“I told you ou before the game that history has as a tendency of repeating itself and I am happy we are through again to the next stage.

“We will push to go as far as possible in this cup and we also do that with an eye on the league, that is why you see I even rested some of our players for this game,” he said.

“That is water under the bridge but anyway just to tell you what happened, I asked for our balls to be withdrawn because as you might have seen supporters were deflating them,” said Dhlakama.

The miners had the first meaningful threat on goal when big defender Lawrence Mhlanga’s goal bound header from a Tigere corner inside the opening ten minutes was pushed wide by Warriors reserve goalkeeper Talbert Shumba.

Thirteen minutes into the match Mukuradare powered his way beyond the miners trusted defender, Moyo, before summoning ultimate composure to fire a low shot that gave exposed goalkeeper Francis Tizayi no chance.

Ten minutes

later Moyo atoned for his earlier mistake, finding the equaliser after the defence had failed to convincingly deal with another Tigere corner.

Six minutes before the hour the miners surged ahead when Dube tapped in a Kutsanzira cross, but Muzanenhamo left an indelible mark on the fixture with an expertly executed turn and shoot from outside the box to level the scores again.