Chitembwe fumes as CAPS, FC Platinum match is abandoned
FC PLATINUM ............... (1)
CAPS UNITED ................ (0)
CAPS United coach Llyod Chitembwe was left fuming, labelling the match o cials 'stupid' and 'comical' after their match was abandoned on the 86th minute following a contentious decision.
That was after they were denied what could have counted as a genuine goal which prompted the Harare giants' fans and o cials to invade the pitch protesting the decision.
CAPS United mid elder Ralph Kawondera had beaten Wallace Magalane from just outside the box in the 86th minute, but second assistant referee Mncedisi Maphosa agged it for o -side.
And that did not go down well with the CAPS United group of supporters and o cials who went on to invade the pitch, causing the abandonment of the match.
That could have been CAPS United's equalizer. The referees, including centre-man Lloyd Mapanje, left the pitch in a hu as they were being harassed.
The match was halted for about 20 minutes before the match commissioner Brighton Nyika called it o .
"All I can say is that the referees said they were no longer comfortable continuing with the match," Nyika said.
And Chitembwe was livid as he took a swipe at the match o ciating which he labelled as 'stupid and comical'.
"The problem in our football is that the wrong man always takes centre stage and it has reduced this PSL to a comical show," he said.
"It's very unfortunate where week in, week out people are always complaining about poor match o ciating. We can't have referees making stupid decisions if we aspire to be a serious football nation.”
"It’s saddening to see the referee taking the centre stage for all the wrong reasons. This was meant to be a contender for goal of the season, but some stupid man took that opportunity away
"We will always talk about it even if people don't like it. I have the right to freedom of speech."
Both sides started the match with lots of enthusiasm and Caps United got their rst chance after two minutes, but Lot Chiwunga was adjudged to be in an o -side position.
FC Platinum quickly regrouped and mid elder Juan Mutudza struck after nine minutes following a neat buildup that involved Oscar Bhebhe and Wilfred Muvirimi.
From there, the contest became much of a physical battle as both sides congested the mid eld, with no clearcut chances being created. Godknows Murwira came close to nding the equalizer for the Green Machine in the 19th minute with a rasping shot from a corner-kick rebound.
However, goalie Magalane was equal to the task as he parried the effort out for another corner-kick.
Caps United returned from the break with much impetus, but they yielded nothing from their momentum.
FC PLATINUM :W Magalane, M Ngwenya, M Ndlovu, LMhlanga, R Pavari, B Banda, J Mutudza, D Marowa(H Magaya 66'),O Bhebhe, P Mutimbanyoka, W Muvirimi
CAPS UNITED: A Rayners, I Zambezi, E Manokore, H Chapusha, G Murwira, R Chinyengetere, R Kawondera, P Bamusi(Tendai Matindife 78') W Makuva, L Chiwunga, W Manondo (K Mureremba 58')