The Sunday News
Harare Bureau
FC Platinum…………………………………………………(0) 1
Chapungu……………………………………………………….. 0
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza was left fuming after being accused of bribing referees in order to win matches at Mandava yesterday. The visitors’ assistant coach Clemence Mugari felt the 86th minute penalty, which swayed the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Midlands Derby towards FC Platinum, was dodgy and accused Mapeza of being corrupt soon after the final whistle.
Pure Platinum Play midfielder Winston Mhango converted the spot kick that was awarded by referee Ruzive Ruzive following a William Ngonya foul on a charging Marshall Mudehwe.
Ruzive got the call right but for Mugari it was too much to handle and he tore into Mapeza.
“How can Mugari accuse me of bribing the referee? I am very disappointed by his behaviour. He must know that we are professionals and we work very hard to get these results.
“I think it will be fair to everyone if he comes out clean and prove the allegations he has levelled against us,” said Mapeza in a post match interview.
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino was also crying foul.
“I want to give credit to my players for the brilliant display they put up here,” he said.
“As for the result I think it’s a case of us losing due to circumstances we can’t control. The referee was very far from the incident and I don’t know how he ended up awarding that penalty.
“We made life very difficult for them and I don’t remember seeing them firing a shot at goal,” added Nyikadzino.
Pure Platinum Play dominated the match but their dominance was limited to possession only as Chapungu put up a brilliant defensive display.
However, the introduction of Warriors winger Mudehwe in the second half gave the miners some leverage as the visitors struggled with his pace.
It was not long before Ngonya conceded a penalty in a desperate attempt to stop a glory bound Mudehwe.
