We won but am not happy… As Perry Mutapa laments poor officiating

NAPSA Stars boss Perry Mutapa has lamented poor officiating despite his team recording a hard-fought 2-1 away in Livingstone.

The Pensioners beat Livingstone 2-1 in an Eden University/FAZ National Division One week 26 encounter at Maramba Stadium.

Mutapa was not impressed by the officiating of Livingstone-based Philad Bwalya who awarded Pirates a late penalty and sent off Austin Banda and Luka Banda in additional time.

Mutapa believes Zambian football is in a bad state and poor officiating has played a big part.

“Sometimes it’s not good to talk, The last time I talked they were people who took it personally,” Mutapa said

“Not because we have won but from the first half it was difficult for us but I kept my cool.

“My big brother Gift Chaipa came to the bench and told me to just concentrate and not talk to anyone,” Mutapa said.

“It’s a sad state of affairs in our football, two red cards that we did not deserve and a last-minute penalty which is not supposed to be.

“Whatever happens in this part of Zambia, the players were protesting that it was not a penalty, but how do you allow police officers to come into the pitch and this is what happened at another pitch I won’t mention.”

“Let the other teams play their game and we will play our game. Today I told my players to go flat out and get maximum points. It’s not good even their fans were saying it’s not fair to give them that penalty, it’s bad for football, we won but not happy,” he added

The win means Napsa Stars move to 46 points just two points adrift of leaders MUZA and a point behind second-placed Lumwana Radiants who are waiting for the verdict of the KYSA game.