By Tapiwa Chawagarira
FC Platinum’s revival under new coach Thabo Senong is increasingly taking shape, with the Zvishavane giants yet to concede a goal in four matches since the South African took charge.
Senong has overseen three victories and one draw in his first four matches, with FC Platinum scoring four goals and keeping a clean sheet in each game.
The run began with a 1-0 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League victory over Agama at Mandava Stadium, followed by a 2-0 triumph over Blackrock in the ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
They then produced perhaps their most impressive defensive display of this period when they held league leaders Scottland to a goalless draw at Rufaro Stadium.
FC Platinum completed the sequence with another 1-0 league victory over ZPC Kariba at Mandava on Saturday, with Oscar Bhebhe scoring the winning goal.
The latest victory also marked a third successive win for Senong’s men, highlighting the growing stability since his arrival.
Senong’s defensive emphasis was evident from his very first match in charge. After the Agama victory, he said that one of the team’s objectives was to avoid conceding while maintaining its attacking structure.
“We spoke to our players about patience, about not losing our structure while attacking, and about balancing goal creation with solid defending,” Senong said after the Agama match.
That philosophy appears to have quickly translated onto the pitch.
Against Scottland, who have been setting the pace in the championship race, FC Platinum absorbed pressure and secured a valuable point without allowing the league leaders to break through.
That result was followed by another disciplined performance against ZPC Kariba, with FC Platinum once again doing enough offensively while keeping their defensive record intact. The Herald described the Kariba victory as Senong’s third consecutive win since taking charge.
The transformation is particularly notable given the uncertainty that surrounded FC Platinum earlier in the season after the departure of long-serving coach Norman Mapeza and subsequent changes to the technical department.
Senong took over from Joel Lupahla towards the end of July, with former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe “Yeye” Letsholonyane working alongside him.
While FC Platinum’s league position means the championship is no longer their immediate target, the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup has emerged as an important opportunity for the club, as the competition offers a route into next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
For now, however, it is the statistics behind Senong’s start that stand out. Four matches. Three wins. One draw. Four goals scored. None conceded.
After a difficult period of transition, FC Platinum are beginning to look like a side built around defensive discipline, patience, and efficiency — qualities that could prove important as Senong attempts to restore the four-time champions to the upper echelons of Zimbabwean football.
