DEFENDING Champions FC Platinum blew away a realistic chance of reclaiming pole position on the Premier Soccer League standings after they were stunned 1-0 by Bulawayo Chiefs Mandava stadium yesterday.
There was commotion after the match as irate FC Platinum fans, blocked head coach Lizwe Sweswe’s vehicle as he was about to leave the stadium. The coach was forced to make a public apology to the fans for the team’s tame performance.
The platinum miners came into the game with a spring in their step following a mid-week win over Ngezi Platinum. They were, however, handed a reality check by relegation threatened Chiefs who played with so much passion and determination in their bid to maintain their PSL status.
FC Platinum’s defeat might have also ceded more ground to current log leaders CAPS who themselves face another relegation threatened side TelOne this afternoon.
Desire Shumbanhete was the hero as he scored the solitary goal that earned Chiefs maximum points.
Shumbanhete nodded home a neat cross whipped by Aurthur Musiyiwa on the 69th minute mark, helping Amakhosi scale up the ladder to 34 points.
Meanwhile, FC Platinum remained on second place with 49 points on their tally. And the result was so painful to Sweswe that he laid the blame on poor match officiating.
“This was a tough game but it is unfortunate that it was decided by another person, he said”
“I cannot comment much about the officiating but I feel we could have done better had some decisions not been made. We are still in the race and we must not lose hope at all costs. We need to remain focused” .
His counterpart Thulani Sibanda was elated with the win and declared that his team has the pedigree to beat anyone in the league.
“We can beat any team in this league because we have the character which we showed today, he said.”
“This win is very important to us in the relegation fight and I think the fear of being eliminated was the main driving force.”
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League results and fixtures:
Yesterday: Ngezi Platinum Stars 1-0 Manica Diamonds, FC Platinum 0-1 Bulawayo Chiefs, Herentals 0-0 Harare City
Today: Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro), Yadah v Chapungu (National Sports Stadium), ZPC Kariba v Black Rhinos (Nyamhunga), TelOne v CAPS United (Ascot), Hwange v Mushowani Stars (Colliery)