NAPSA Stars Football Club picked up a crucial point at home on Saturday following a dramatic 2-2 draw against Kabwe Warriors at the REIZ Arena Stadium in Lusaka.

The result, however, was overshadowed by some refereeing controversy in the dying minutes of the tense match.

Speaking after the match, NAPSA Stars assistant coach Lawrence Lubinda credited the result to solid pre-match preparations.

“It was a tough game but it’s just good that we prepared well,”he said.

Evans Kayombo gave the Pensioners an early lead in the 15th minute, but the advantage was short-lived as Seith Sakala struck back just four minutes later for 0Warriors.

Lubinda described the clash as a “big game” and felt the draw was a fair outcome.

“Big game. Warriors came for it—you could see the fight from the players on the field of play. A fair result although we wanted to win the game.”

Mwamba Mutombo put the visitors ahead for the first time in the second half, but NAPSA Stars refused to back down, with former Warriors striker Godfrey Binga leveling the scores in the 93rd minute.

There was late drama as Warriors thought they had won it deep into stoppage time, but Timothy Sakala’s goal was ruled out for offside.

The assistant referee’s flag went up in unclear circumstances in what appeared to be a clean goal.

Coach Lubinda declined to be drawn into the officiating debate.

“Football has got rules so if the referee saw it as an offside, who are we to argue with him? That’s why there are rules in the game of football.”