The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga in Mhondoro-Ngezi
Ngezi Platinum Stars………………….1
Yadah FC…………………………………….1
Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Erol Akbay blamed referee Thabani Bamala for the Mhondoro-based side’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League draw against Yadah FC, claiming the match official was hugely biased against them at Baobab yesterday.
“Today the referee was not our best friend, everything we did the referee was against us.
“Also the penalty, if you want to give this kind of penalty then you also have to be consistent, in the first half we also had a similar incident.
“Sometimes somehow referees do not see and they own the rules of football and sometimes I do not understand these referees but again we failed to score goals but the referee was the biggest problem,’’ said Akbay.
The former Highlanders coach also put part of the blame on his players for failing to convert clear cut chances and believes the situation will only be addressed during the mid-season transfer window.
“The referee was to blame we make one mistake and he gives a penalty against us but on the other hand we failed to score and it is an issue within our team.
“We lost two good key players and now we have to wait until the mid-season transfer window to work on that area,” said the Dutchman.
While Akbay had something to blame for the result his counterpart Genesis Mamombe was happy with the draw praising his charges “for a spirited performance’’.
“Playing away from home and against Ngezi Platinum one of the biggest teams in Zimbabwe is not easy and to me the result is fair’’.
“My boys came to the party and I am happy with their performance,’’ said Mangombe.
The game started off on a balanced note with the teams playing cautiously and the first attempt at goal only arriving after 13 minutes when Ralph Matema’s volley was tipped for a corner by Nelson Chadya.
Ngezi were forced to defend deep and had to rely on counter raids in the early stages.
The raids paid dividends in the 27th minute when Charamba broke loose on the left flank, found James Nguluve who in turn sent in a cross in to find Mabvura.
Mabvura did well to control and volleyed home from close range.
Yadah continued to search for the equaliser but Leeroy Mavhunga was to blame for wasting a host of clear chances.
Ngezi had a penalty call denied by Bamala in the later stages of the first half when Brian Chikwenya appeared to have handled inside the box. Yadah on their part continued to dominate proceedings soon after the break with Issah Sadiki and Mavhunga causing problems for the Ngezi defence.
The visitors’ pressure was finally rewarded in the 57th minute when Nelson Ketala handled inside the box in a bid to clear a Sadiki cross.
Bamala pointed to the spot which saw Mavhunga stepping to take the penalty sending Chadya the wrong way.
Both sides continued to search for the winner but neither strike force was able to grab a second goal.
