Whoever termed soccer ”the Beautiful Game” could not have been at drab and desultory Princess Magogo Stadium on the outskirts of Durban on Sunday afternoon as Platinum Stars held out for a 1-0 Absa Premiership win over AmaZulu.
It was not an entertaining game for the sparse crowd, although the teams could not be faulted for their endeavour.
A stunning, snap shot from Colombian import Luis Renteria that rocketed into the roof of the net in the 21st minute secured the Rustenburg-based team their victory after AmaZulu had made a hesitant, indecisive start in the opening period.
”The team that scores the goals wins the game,” philosophised Stars’ Argentinian coach Miguel Gamondi afterwards, ”and we achieved what we came here to do.”
And Gamondi, who was responsible for securing the potent Renteria from South America, has also succeeded in moulding Stars into a professional, workmanlike unit that generally looked a step or two ahead of AmaZulu.
”We never really recovered from the slow start,” said former Bafana and AmaZulu coach Clive Barker, ”but these are early days yet and I think we did enough in the second half to deserve a point.” — Sapa