By Milton Mashasha | Platimun FC scored 1 to beat Dynamos.
Platinum scored from a spot kick/penalty in the 45+1 minutes first half.
This was an early litmus test for the rebuilding Harare giants Dynamos FC will take a centre stage at the giant National Sports Stadium this afternoon as they face the fancy side FC Platinum in week one of the Zimbabwean topflight league.
The glamour boys who were in a recruitment exercise after the departure and release of a bulk of senior players, the likes of Dominic Mukandi, Walter Mukànga, Tatendà Mukuruva, Brett Amidu, Godknows Murwira who left for better offers whereas Roderick Mutuma, Sydney Linyàma, Jacob Muzokomba and Stephen Alimenda were shown the exit by Lloyd Mutasa. Mutasa then brought in quite à number of new players into the Dynamos camp to fill the void left by their regulars.
The players include a foreigner, a Cameroonian forward Ntouba Epoupa Christian Joel, goàlminder Blessing Mwandimutsira a former Buffaloes player, Lincoln Zvasiya, Phakamani Dube, Quality Kangadze, Emmanuel Mandiranga, Cleopas Kapupirika and Gift Saunyama. On the other side their opponent FC Platinum scooped top quality players in the Zimbabwean premier soccer league and on paper they seem to be strong Championship contenders before kick starting their campaign.
They have got in their books former Hwange hitman Gift Mbweti, speed winger Talent Chawapihwa, former Dynamos, dynamite, pint sized midfielder Brett Amidu, Agripa Murimba who was with Mutate City last season and also they have won the battle against Chicken Inn where they had a player wrangle for the player status that is Lawrence Mhlanga whom his former team Chicken Inn argued that the player has a running contract with them.
The Harare giant must be at their best to beat the Zvishavane-based outfit FC Platinum.FC has done extremely well in the past two seasons under their coach Norman Mapeza who is now also acting as the interim coach for the Warriors.Dynamos who are having a youthful side this season although with few seasoned and experienced players in the form of their skipper Ocean Mushure, Lincoln Zvasiya, Obey Mwerahari and winger Masimba Mambare. They have got a competitive side of which their standard and strength will come to a real test this afternoon.
FC Platinum who normal depends on their team mobility as their strength and force behind their superiority against opponents where they mostly rely on their mobile midfielders and wing-backs for the goals.
They have got a bulk of attacking midfielders who can provide goals hence their disability is their strike force since the departure of Obrey Chirwa and Donald Ngomà to Tanzania and Walter Musonà to South Africa,they dominant play but no finishers upfront.
Dynamos need to fortify their midfield to weaken FC Platinum otherwise the latter might dominant the entire match. Moreso the Dynamos new acquisition,Cameroonian striker Ntouba Epoupa will have to exhibit himself, why he was signed to dawn the blue and white jersey,in order to breach the pair of Gift Bello and Kelvin Moyo alongside Ian Nekati, Elvis Moyo or William Sitima who might complete the back four for FC. Otherwise it will be tough for young Dynamos strikers the likes of King Nasama, Madhiri and Nyakasaka to penetrate Platinum back four.
It will be an entertaining and explosive encounter, Lloyd Mutasa who had a stint as a coach with the platinum miners will be facing his former paymasters and he will be hard pressed to convince the ever demanding multitudes of the Dembare fans that he has built a formidable side that can challenge for the honours.
@lesego.