FC Platinum’s proud home record came crashing down on Sunday after a 1-0 defeat to Herentals at Mandava Stadium, a result that ended the Zvishavane side’s unbeaten run on home soil stretching back to October 2025.
The defeat left FC Platinum coach Joel Luphahla furious with his players, questioning their commitment after watching his side squander several clear-cut opportunities.
“I feel that the players did not do enough today,” said Luphahla
“They did not respect the badge. Most of the time, I am always defending them, but today, I feel they did not respect the badge, they didn’t defend the badge, and they didn’t defend our home. You cannot look at the chances we missed,some of them were glaring and easy to score, but we didn’t finish them.”
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The loss was particularly painful for FC Platinum, who had turned Mandava Stadium into a fortress over the past eight months. Throughout the latter stages of the 2025 campaign and the opening half of the current season, the four-time league champions had remained unbeaten at home, grinding out results through a combination of defensive discipline and resilience.
However, those qualities were absent against Herentals side that arrived in Zvishavane in impressive form. The Students absorbed pressure before Liyeto’s goal gave them the advantage, and they held firm despite FC Platinum creating numerous chances in the second half.
The result continued a frustrating season for FC Platinum, who have struggled to consistently challenge the leading pack. While they have remained one of the league’s most difficult teams to beat, a series of draws and an inability to convert chances into victories have hampered their progress.
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