Online Reporter
Sports Reporter
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza has condemned the abandonment of matches following unfavourable refereeing decisions.
The former champions are now guaranteed an unbeaten opening half of the season after their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash at home to Dynamos was abandoned late in the second half when the visitors walked off following a penalty decision for the hosts.
The match was delicately balanced at 1-1 when it was stopped.
Speaking after the match, Mapeza said teams should realise that the referee’s decision is final and not walk off the field in protest as Dynamos did at Mandava yesterday.
“I don’t think we want this in our football. Some people might say I am saying this because it happened to my club but look I don’t think we need our football to be at this level. The referee has blown the whistle, it has happened to us, but you cannot stop the game.
“I think the game should have continued. You never know what might have happened, maybe we could have missed the penalty and maybe they could have gotten back into the game and won it.
“You cannot solve the problems by walking out of the pitch, It has happened to us, we have matches where goals were scored from offside, another team was given a penalty, or we were denied a penalty, but you cannot walk out…” said Mapeza.
Looking at the game up to the abandonment, Mapeza felt his charges were wasteful.
“I think it was a good game of football. We gave away a soft goal through that free kick and then after that we looked much better although we didn’t create many opportunities in the first half except the one by Oscar Bhebhe.
“Then second we really came trying and got that goal from Thando (Ngwenya) but again those missed chances…maybe it could not have ended the way it did if we had scored those two clear chances that we got from Thando from Oscar,” said Mapeza.
Dynamos coach Saul Chaminuka believes they should have gotten a freekick as an FC Platinum player fouled substitute and captain, Emmanuel Jalai in the penalty box.
“I think we played well. We had come here competing and we had answers to everything, unfortunately football now there is no fair play. And sad enough it is coming from people who should be applying the rules.
“It’s very funny that the first player to have impeded someone is not charged and then when it looks like something else has happened, the whistle is blown. And the situation that ended up ending the game prematurely, Jalai was pulled from behind by the striker. There is no way we are going to play week in, week out and referees continue to be giving away matches like that. Coaches are sacked because of such refereeing decisions.
The Premier Soccer League also condemned the abandonment of the match.
“The Premier Soccer League wishes to advise its stakeholders that the Castle Lager PSL match between FC Platinum and Dynamos FC played at Mandava Stadium on Sunday 22 June 2025 was abandoned.
“The PSL strongly condemns any acts of misconduct that lead to the abandonment of matches and those found guilty will face the full wrath of the prescribed penalties. The PSL regrets any inconvenience caused to its members, stakeholders and partners.”
