By McGeoge Mbare
CENTRAL Region Soccer League side Blanket Mine have been knocked out of the Munhumutapa Cup after suffering a 3-0 defeat to FC Platinum at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.
Blanket Mine went into the fixture as the only lower-division side remaining in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Unfortunately, the Barbers could not pull off another upset against the Premier Soccer League giants.
Famously known as the Barbers, Blanket Mine suffered an early setback after conceding a penalty in the third minute.
FC Platinum’s Oscar Bhebhe was brought down inside the 18-yard box and Junior Selemani stepped up to calmly convert from the spot and break the deadlock.
The Barbers managed to withstand sustained pressure from FC Platinum for the remainder of the first half, going into the break just a goal down.
Blanket Mine eventually lost their grip on the match after the restart, with Emmanuel Dogbey doubling FC Platinum’s advantage before completing his brace later in the game to seal a convincing 3-0 victory.
Despite the defeat, the Barbers can look back on their Munhumutapa Cup journey with pride, even though it fell short of what they had hoped to achieve.
On their way to the quarter-finals, Blanket Mine rubbed shoulders with Premier Soccer League sides such as Triangle United, TelOne and FC Platinum, overcoming several challenges before their run was finally ended by the Zvishavane based giants.
The defeat also means Blanket Mine have now been eliminated at the quarterfinal stage of two competitions this season, Dream INN Super 8 where they lost to Grain Tigers and the Munhumutapa Cup, where FC Platinum brought their campaign to an end.
The Barbers’ hopes of completing a treble have now been shattered, with the league title their only remaining target.
Despite falling short in the Munhumutapa Cup, Blanket Mine’s run remains one of the most notable cup campaigns by a lower division side, given the Premier League oppositions they faced along the way.
After the match, Coach Petros Jukulile explained what led to his side’s loss in this crucial fixture.
“We tried our level best, but a few factors also came into play. We failed to contain them during transitions and lacked organisation when defending. We also failed to cope with the physical aspects required of top players, such as speed and endurance. Our boys tried their best to make their mark and showed why they are among the top teams in the Central Region” Jukulile said.