BY FORTUNE MBELE IN BULAWAYO
Bulawayo Chiefs……… 0
FC Platinum……….. (0) 3
FC PLATINUM shot back to the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log-standings in a dramatic encounter that saw them being gifted two goals inside two minutes by Bulawayo Chiefs goalkeeper David Bizabani at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
After a good display in the first half, creating a number of chances, but failing to score, Bizabani made a howler two minutes after the break, failing to make a clearance from a back-pass for an alert FC Platinum striker Albert Eonde to put the champions in the lead.
Bizabani made the same error a minute later after he attempted to dribble past Eonde and he was dispossessed and the Cameroonian grabbed his second goal of the day.
Chiefs had a chance to get back into the game in the 68th minute after a Platinum defender handled inside the box, but Arthur Musiyiwa’s spot kick was saved by goalkeeper Francis Tizayi.
As if that was not enough of the second half drama, FC Platinum substitute Lawrence Mhlanga, brought in to stabilise defence, was shown the red card by referee Hardley Ndazi for time-wasting on a second-bookable offence, barely spending 20 minutes in the field of play.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza then brought in Never Tigere a minute into optional time and with his first touch, the player scored a gem of a goal from a free-kick, beating Bizabani all systems out.
But overall Mapeza still has reservations with his boys’ game and he is not happy with his strikers.
“In the first half there was nothing to talk about because those two mistakes brought us back into the game. Had it not been for the goalkeeper, we were not going to score. There wasn’t creativity in the final third. No one is willing to take the risks and I am really worried about it,” Mapeza said.
The hosts’ gaffer Farai Tawachera was a disappointed man.
“I have been disappointed before, but I have never been this disappointed. It was a simple game and tactically we were there. I don’t know how we go and explain the two goals that we gave FC Platinum. Performance-wise, we were there, but then we gifted them those goals and we went on to miss a penalty,” Tawachera said.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League results and fixtures:
Yesterday: Chapungu 1-2 Yadah FC, Bulawayo Chiefs 0-3 FC Platinum, Harare City 1-2 Herentals, Black Rhinos 0-0 ZPC Kariba
Today: CAPS United v TelOne (National Sports Stadium), Triangle United v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Mushowani Stars v Hwange (Rufaro), Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Manica Diamonds v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Vengere).