JOHANNESBURG – Bottom-of-the-log Platinum Stars and fellow strugglers Chippa United played to a goalless draw in an Absa Premiership match played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium near Rustenburg on Saturday evening.
In a match that produced very few goal scoring opportunities, the home side had more ball possession, but were unable to get the ball into the net.
Stars, who went into the match off the back of three consecutive league defeats since the start of the 2017/2018 league campaign, have looked a more solid unit since the arrival of experienced coach Roger de Sa just over a week ago, with Malawian central midfielder Robert Ng’ambi’s slick combination passing with striker Bongi Ntuli, being one of the positive points for the Rustenburg side.
The trip to Bafokeng, was the first match in charge of Chippa for Tebogo Moloi, the Orlando Pirates midfield star of the 1980s and ex-assistant coach of the Bucaneers, as Pirates are known. Likewise, the Chippa midfield showed signs of inspiration with Sandile Zuke and Kurt Lentjies looking ominous at times.
Chippa’s task was made even more difficult when they lost the services of their midfield kingpin Mark Mayambela late in the first half, but the team showed character, in holding their own in the centre of the park.
Apart from in the 90th minute when Leintjies produced a defence-splitting pass to find Paseka Mako, who had his shot saved by Stars’ goalkeeper Mgongeni Mzimela at point blank range, neither the Stars’ glovesman, not his counterpart, Chippa’s Nigerian international Daniel Akpeyi, were troubled during the 90 minutes of play.
While Chippa will be happy in having secured a point away from home, Stars will take heart from having recorded their first clean sheet of the season, which will give Mzimela and his defence a sense of confidence.
Stars, with a solitary point from four outings, will have another home outing against Golden Arrows on Wednesday, while on the same day, Chippa, with five points from four matches, will take on in-form Supersport United in Tshwane.