Players see red!

THREE red cards were recorded in Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s match day five games, with two shown in a drama filled derby between Bulawayo Chiefs and Chicken Inn.

Chicken Inn’s midfielder Tafadzwa Kutinyu picked his second red card of the season in the 2-2 draw against Bulawayo Chiefs.

The former Zimbabwe international, who turned villain for Chicken Inn after he was given his marching orders in the 69th minute, 14 minutes after giving his team the lead.

Kutinyu, whose first red card came on the opening day of the season when Chicken Inn played a goalless draw against Sheasham in Zvishavane will miss the Gamecocks’ next home game against early pacesetters Caps United who played to a 1-1 draw with FC Platinum at the weekend.

Besides Kutinyu wearing the league’s “bad boy” tag for his two red cards in five games, an appalling behavior was witnessed at Luveve Stadium when Bulawayo Chiefs’ goalkeeper Issa Ali went berserk, taking off his shirt to charge at referee Allan Bhasvi after being red carded.

Bhasvi was spot on to flash a red card to Ali who committed a professional foul to deny Chicken Inn’s striker Brian Muza an obvious goal scoring opportunity in the second half.

Ali, who had to be restrained by his teammates might find himself facing more charges for attempting to hit the referee. He threw a water bottle into the field of play and wanted to charge at the referee before he was restrained by Chiefs officials.

The third red card of the weekend was for Ngezi Platinum Stars’ Kudzai Chigwida for his tackle on Manica Diamonds’ forward Gerald Bhero at Gibbo Stadium. Chigwida’s expulsion meant that Madamburo had to play the last 39 minutes off their encounter with 10-man, as they successfully defended their 1-0 lead to earn their first victory of the season.

Ngezi Platinum Stars’ victory took their points tally to seven in five games.

Top scorers

Herentals’ winger Tafadzwa Jimu leads the goal scorers’ chats with four goals. Jimu rose from the bench to score the winner for The Students when they beat ZPC Kariba 2-1 to secure their first win of the season. Herentals are now on six points from a possible 15.

Hwange’s Brighton “Bha” Makopa is on third, with a host of players who include last season’s top goal scorer William Manondo, who was on target in Caps United’s 1-1 stalemate with FC Platinum, Wilson Mensah of Triangle United, FC Platinum’s pair of Juan Mutudza and Walter Musona, Nqobile Ndlovu of Green Fuel and Ronald Chitiyo (Simba Bhora) on two goals.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League

Match Day 5 results

Friday: Cranborne Bullets 0-1 Yadah, Simba Bhora 2-0 Hwange
Saturday: Sheasham 1-1 Green Fuel, Herentals 2-1 ZPC Kariba, Manica Diamonds 0-1 Ngezi Platinum Stars

Sunday: Caps United 1-1 FC Platinum, Triangle United 2-1 Black Rhinos, Bulawayo Chiefs 2-2 Chicken Inn.
— @ZililoR