Mutasa eyes third silverware

Sport
LLOYD “Samaita” Mutasa is hoping to cruise past Monomotapa on Saturday on his way to winning the 2013 BancABC Sup8r Cup, to claim the third piece of silverware for his new club FC Platinum since they came into the premiership in 2011.

LLOYD “Samaita” Mutasa is hoping to cruise past Monomotapa on Saturday on his way to winning the 2013 BancABC Sup8r Cup, to claim the third piece of silverware for his new club FC Platinum since they came into the premiership in 2011.

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FC Platinum take on Monomotapa in the semi-final of the tournament at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday with Shabanie Mine clashing against league champions Dynamos on Sunday as Bulawayo hosts both matches of the Sup8r tournament.

Mutasa joined FC Platinum in June following the departure of Tennant Chilumba, who tendered his resignation to join Zambian side Power Dynamos after a six-month dance with the Zvishavane-based outfit.

FC Platinum won the Bob ’88 Super Cup in February last year after beating Hwange 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium. They also won the Independence Trophy two years ago after beating Motor Action on penalties in the final at the National Sports Stadium.

Mutasa yesterday said the platinum miners were a big institution and that should be measured by trophies in their cabinet. Samaita said he believed history would favour him to win the BancABC Sup8r Cup with FC Platinum after winning the Bob ’87 Super Cup with Dynamos in 2011 and the Swazi Bank Cup with Green Mamba in Swaziland.

“FC Platinum are a big institution by Zimbabwe standards and that can only be realised by having something in our cabinet. We will try to get this one. I won the Bob ’87 Cup when I joined Dynamos in 2011. When I went to Swaziland last year and joined Green Mamba, I scooped the Swazi Bank Cup.

“In every first cup that I have participated with a new club I have won. Monomotapa are a good side, but we must make our intentions known. We need to work hard and get the silverware and that’s the short-term plan for us,” Mutasa said.

The former Warriors assistant coach said he was by yesterday expecting four national team players Charles Sibanda, Nelson Maziwisa, Ali Sadiki and Donald Ngoma to join the team in training as they prepare for Monomotapa.

“We are expecting them this afternoon (yesterday). I am sure they will all be around, but if Nelson (Maziwisa) will be going to South Africa, if he succeeds, we wish him well,” Mutasa said.

Last week, FC Platinum media liaison officer Chipo Chizondo told Southern Eye that the 2012 Golden Boot award winner was scheduled to leave for South Africa for further trials with Absa Premiership side SuperSport United after the African Nations Championship final qualifier against Zambia which the Warriors won 1-0 against Chipolopolo on Saturday.

FC Platinum date Monomotapa, the 2008 league champions who have been struggling in the 2013 Castle Lager Premier League and are fighting relegation, sitting on position 12 on the log standings. Monomotapa, coached by Biggie Zuze, lost their league match 0-3 to Hwange at home two weeks ago.

FC Platinum booted Bosso out of the quarter-final of the Sup8r Cup 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out at Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo on June 29, while Monomotapa sailed through after edging fellow strugglers Motor Action 1-0 at Gibbo Stadium, Chiredzi, on June 30.