The climax of any tournament comes with pressure and this was evident at Rufaro stadium on Saturday as FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza blew his fuse after the defeat to Harare City.

With Platinum needing maximum points to keep the momentum and keep their opponents at bay, the Zvishavane based side found themselves trailing 1-0 early in the match and on top of that a man short after Gerald Takwara was given a straight red card just after fifteen minutes of play.

For the better part of the match, Mapeza was agitated remonstrating against the referee Philani Ncube’s decisions

The margin between success and failurefor FC Platinum is – quite literally – a matter of maximum points in each of their remaining league games.

This came to fore when the referee blew to end the match as Mapeza charged towards Ncube but was checked in his long stride by Harare City marshals and an altercation ensured.

“He should not intimidate me, he should not intimidate me…”screamed Mapeza,

“He is your security not ours, he is too small for our football! He doesn’t understand Zimbabwean football”

Undeterred, the marshal began to explain himself but the former National team coach wasn’t interested.

He continued: “let us deal with the referees, the police is here.”

Mapeza was then pulled away by PSL official RodwellThabe who brought him to the touchline where Journalists were waiting for his post-match comments where he continued with his tirade on the officials.

“…I have never said anything to the referees but today I’m not happy …”

Was this a display of poor sportsmanship by championship chasing coach or its acceptable as the heat keeps increasing with four games to the end of the season?

FC Platinum remains on top of the log with 51 points with Highlanders and CAPS following closely on 50 although the later have a game in hand which they play on Sunday against basement side Border Strikers away at Dulivhadzimu stadium in Beitbridge.