HARARE - Monomotapa coach Biggie Zuze believes the Castle Lager Premiership title race is still wide open after seeing his youthful side embarrass FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium on Saturday.
The 2008 Zimbabwe champions knocked the ball around with a swagger that illuminated Mandava and bamboozled the home side.
Monomotapa were menacing from the first whistle and got full control of the game after the platinum miners’ fullback Zephaniah Ngodzo was sent off for a lunge on Russell Madamombe in the first half.
The Harare-based side went on to get their goals through Makai Kawashu, Hilary Mugoniwa and Osborne Mukuradare.
“The race is still wide open and we still have a chance to close in on the top two teams and go all the way to win it,” Zuze told the Daily News.
“What is needed is to believe and remain focused until the final game. We also just need to concentrate on our game without looking at how others in the race are playing. We need to maintain this form and make sure that we continue winning away from home like what we did.”
Life after Taurai Mangwiro seems to be getting rosier with each passing game as they have emerged as a strong dark horse.
Monomotapa are now third on the log with 36 points after 19 matches some seven points behind log leaders Highlanders.
Second-placed Dynamos are one point ahead of Monomotapa with 37 points from 17 matches.
If Zuze’s men continue with the form they have shown so far, they could end the season by winning a second league title for the club.
On Saturday, Monomotapa were all over their hosts and did not show them any degree of respect with Madamombe embarrassing Ngodzo at every turn before the sending off.
FC Platinum looked out of depth chasing shadows all afternoon and were lucky not to lose the match by a wider margin.
The home side’s coach Tendai Chikuni was frustrated by the way his players succumbed to the Monomotapa pressure.
“It’s back to the drawing board ahead of our next match against Dynamos because we conceded defeat due to silly mistakes,” Chikuni said.