Masomere taunts DeMbare

Sport
HOW Mine coach Luke Masomere has cast doubts over Dynamos’ ability to win their fifth straight Castle Lager Premier League title ahead of his team’s clash with the champions at Rufaro stadium this afternoon.

HOW Mine coach Luke Masomere has cast doubts over Dynamos’ ability to win their fifth straight Castle Lager Premier League title ahead of his team’s clash with the champions at Rufaro stadium this afternoon.

Henry Mhara

Masomere has instead predicted that FC Platinum will clinch their first title this term.

FC Platinum, currently fourth, have a tricky fixture away at Triangle today, but the outspoken Masomere believes the Zvishavane side have what it takes to come out of Gibbo Stadium unscathed and continue with their upward movement.

It’s a tight affair at the top of the log standings with 10 games remaining before the end of the season.

Log leaders Chicken Inn and FC Platinum are separated by just four points.

“It’s getting tense at the top of the league as we draw close to the end of the season,” said Masomere. “The top teams are meeting this weekend so there could be positional changes and it will be very interesting to see what the log would look like come Monday.”

“Dynamos are a very dangerous team at this stage of the season because they know how to grind results. They have been in this situation before and have done well, but this time I think FC Platinum are better equipped. They will put a very strong challenge. On current form, they have a better chance of winning the title.”

Masomere took a swipe at the Dynamos executive for firing coach David Mandigora, just six months into his three-year contract.

“I personally like FC Platinum,not because they are my homeboys, but because of the way they are doing their business. They kept coach Norman Mapeza despite the criticism he got early this season and it’s beginning to pay off. If it was one club that I know and will not mention by name, he would have been fired long back. They recently fired their coach for no apparent reason,” he added.

Today’s clash at Rufaro is a contest of sides with contrasting fortunes. How Mine is winless in the last four matches, including a 5-1 bashing at the hands of Highlanders while Dynamos are unbeaten in the last 12, although that run includes only five wins.

But Masomere is ready to inflict damage on Dynamos’ title push.

“It’s a crucial match for us because we need to start picking maximum points and if we can do that against a team like Dynamos, it would do wonders in terms of players’ confidence,” he said.

The pre-match discourse has been dominated by the return of Devon Chafa and Tawanda Muparati to face their former team Dynamos.

Masomere could not be drawn to say whether the duo would be in the line-up for the match, but what is certain is that former CAPS United player Tapiwa Kumbuyani is out with an injury he picked at training this week.

FC Platinum have built good momentum over the last couple of months, but their charge was slowed down by ZPC Kariba who forced a share of points in their last match. But they remained unbeaten in 11 games.

The platinum miners’ pedigree faces a stern test when they entertain Dynamos next week.

They still have to play bogey sides CAPS United, Harare City and Chicken inn in their remaining matches.

If the race goes to the final day, facing a Dongo side who could still need points in the relegation fight, it would not be an ideal fixture for FC Platinum.

Dynamos have shown that they are the masters of such run-ins, having eclipsed FC Platinum’s 10 lead in 2010 to claim the title.

Now with Tonderai Ndiraya at the helm, the question is whether DeMbare still possess the same qualities they did under Kalisto Pasuwa.

So far, it has been good for Ndiraya who has picked up seven points in the last three matches.

Dynamos are just four points behind leaders Chicken inn and have a game against the Joey Antipas side later in the season.

For Chicken Inn, games like today’s tie against city rivals Highlanders don’t look easy, and they are still to play all their immediate rivals in the title race.

They face a Highlanders side desperate for maximum points, with coach Bongani Mafu’s future at the club heavily dependent on this game.

Bosso will be without 10-goal scorer Knox Mutizwa who was suspended.

Chicken Inn’s title push is complicated by the fact that they still have to play Dynamos, FC Platinum, Triangle and Harare City.