FC PLATINUM came from behind to salvage a point through an Aaron Katebe goal in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
Thandiwe Moyo Sports Correspondent
Bantu Rovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)1 Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)1
This was the second draw for Bantu Rovers which saw an irate Methembe Ndlovu having to be held back as he charged at FC Platinum officials soon after the match.
Bantu Rovers are still at the bottom of the log with 16 points from 18 games while Platinum are now on 25 points. Bantu Rovers got their goal in the 56th minute through Nqobizitha Masuku with Katebe equalising in the 80th minute.
Ndlovu said what had riled him was the fact that Platinum officials had approached his player after the match without consulting him although he declined to name the officials.
“When coaches go to my players and start talking to them, I take exception to that,” he said.
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He said he was disappointed by the result.
“This is a disappointing result. Ultimately, I am responsible for the result and it shows that I am not doing a good job at the moment. It is also disappointing to see that my players are not being protected and with every foul we were cautioned. I do not want to make excuses,” he said.
Ndlovu sat on the terraces throughout the first half of the match and said this helped him see the match from a different point. FC platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa said their injury-inspired substitutions had affected them.
“I think as a coach you would want to collect three points, but getting a point is better than nothing. Bantu Rovers are a good side and we did not want them to get the ball and hold on to it for a long time and it worked for us,” he said.
“However, the injury to our goalkeeper (Petros Mhari), Allen (Gahadzikwa) and Wisdom Mutasa made things worse for us. We could have avoided the goal that was scored.”
When asked about the situation at the club Mutasa said: “You cannot please everyone. We have not lost in the last 10 matches, but the bulk of the games that we played resulted in draws. We also have to look at the injury to players and the material that we have and you will see we have not done badly.”
Bantu Rovers were first to score in the 56th minute when a long throw from Teenage Hadebe was picked up inside the box by Bukhosi Sibanda who in turn sent a cross inside the box and Masuku obliged by nodding it in.
After the goal, FC Platinum piled on the pressure and were rewarded in the 80th minute when Katebe took advantage of goalmouth confusion to sneak the ball past goalkeeper Takunda Mutanga. There was not much goalmouth action save for a handful of missed chances. Gift Bello could have scored for Platinum in the 12th minute — with Mutanga off his line he shot over the bar.
In the 28th minute Obadiah Tarumbwa’s powerful shot hit the crossbar from inside the goalmouth arch while Masuku’s shot from a deadball situation deflected off the wall towards goal, but goalkeeper Talbert Shumba who had come in for Mhari in the 36th minute saved.
