Zimbabwe Saints……………0 Motor Action………………….0
Motor Action coach Joey Antipas and his assistant David George were Sunday sent off for abusive language hurled at the match officials as the Mighty Bulls were held by struggling Zimbabwe Saints in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at White City Stadium.
George was the first to be consigned to the terraces in the 76th minute by Midlands referee Lawrence Magada before Antipas was also given his marching orders two minutes before the final whistle.
The fourth match official, Sungano Makwangudze, who also hails from the Midlands, confirmed after the match that the two gaffers had been sent off for abusive language.
Antipas rose from the bench in the 76th minute after Magada blew for an offside on substitute striker Edmore Chitato and complained to the second referee David Ngwenya, who had raised the flag.
Makwangudze then beckoned Magada and they had a brief conversation before Antipas was shown the gate to watch from the terraces.
Earlier, Makwangudze had done the same before George was also sent off.
There was brief drama after Mighty Bulls director Eric Rosen decided to take to the bench after his coaches had been sent off, but the match officials would have none of that.
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Antipas was not amused at the match officiating of the day, saying it was difficult to play in the obtaining conditions.
“I give the man-of-the-match medal to the referee. The conditions were difficult to play. Every time we went into attack, the referee blew against us,” Antipas said. Antipas also said the White City Stadium pitch was not up to Premiership standards.
Saints’ coach Ephraim Chawanda disappeared to the dressing rooms after Magada blew to end the match.
Motor Action had the upper hand in the match, attacking Zimbabwe Saints from all angles with Allen Gahadzikwa, Conrad Whitby, Enasio Perezo and Tawanda Nyamandwe, but were unlucky with the goals.
They could have gone into the lead in the eighth minute of the fast-pace first half, but Reuben Machaya’s header from a Passmore Bernard cross hit the left upright post with Chauya Chikwata goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya a beaten man.
Chikwata’s Evans Rusike also beat challenges from Motor Action defenders Godfrey Moyo and Machaya in the 37th minute but before he could take a shot, an alert Marlon Jani cleared the ball to safety.
Motor Action continued to bombard Zimbabwe Saints in the second half, but were unlucky with the goals.
The last 20 minutes of the match belonged Chauya Chikwata but, they could not find the breakthrough.
