FC PLATINUM..........(2)2
TELONE FC...............(1)2
FC Platinum coach Joel Luphahla has admitted he is under pressure to deliver results and awaken the four-time PSL champions, having picked five points out of a possible 12.
Luphahla made these remarks in his post-match comments following their 2-2 pulsating draw with TelOne FC at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Tadiwa Muchenje and Garikai Dematsika scored FC Platinum's goals while Bruno Mtigo and Blessing Mettebeck were on target for The Wifi Boys.
The Zvishavane side have managed one win, over Manica Diamonds, two draws with FC Hunters and TelOne, and a loss to Ngezi Platinum Stars in their opening match.
That has thrust Luphahla under pressure, despite that the 2026 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season is still in its infancy.
"We're under pressure,” Luphahla said. Playing four games for five points isn't good enough for a big club like FC Platinum. I take full responsibility as the head coach, and I know I've got a lot of work to do. But I'm confident we'll turn it around because of the team we have.
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"We just need to finish our chances. If you miss opportunities, the opposition will capitalize on theirs – they had two chances and scored twice. We had plenty, but we didn't score. These are the lessons we need to take, the painful lessons the boys need to learn.”
FC Platinum started the match on fire, scoring in the third minute through a well-worked move involving Emmanuel Dogbey and Garikai Dematsika, which left the TelOne defense in tatters. Muchenje tapped home the opener.
TelOne FC levelled scores 15 minutes later, courtesy of Mtigo, who pounced on a goalmouth scramble after FC Platinum failed to clear their lines.
From then on, the match was neck and neck, with both teams making some impressive attacks. But FC Platinum took control towards the end of the first half, with Dematsika scoring from a corner-kick rebound – the ball squirmed through a forest of legs before he tapped it in. The four-time PSL champs led at half-time.
TelOne ensured a share of spoils on the 84th minute when, Marvellous Chigumira's well delivered cross a was headed home by Blessing Mettebeck.
Though they managed to pick a point, their second of the season, TelOne coach Herbert Maruwa is unhappy with how they have conceded 'soft goals' this season.
"It's now a trend, we're conceding a soft goal at home,” he said.. Even today we conceded a soft goal. Going forward, the team's gelling, I'm happy. It shows we're on the right track. The fighting spirit was there, the zeal to play was there. Even the way we got the two goals, it was through hard work”.
"What I see is that the midfielders aren't maturing. They're playing with the power play, with the outplay, with the tempo. They're getting bullied by the midfielders, and that's not serving us well. But when we control the game, we manage to get the equaliser."
