adminGrace Chingoma Sports Reporter
ZPC Kariba coach Saul Chaminuka and his Chapungu counterpart John Nyikadzino combined yesterday to condemn the horrific tackle on Raphael Manuvire by the airmen’s Blessing Mbuvarira which could well have ended the ZPC Kariba midfielder’s career.
Mbuvarira lunged into Manuvire in an ugly tackle that left the ZPC Kariba man with what was yesterday described by Chaminuka as a deep dislocation .
A tearful Chaminuka bemoaned the injury on his talismanic midfielder who has been one of the stand out players in the first 11 weeks of the season.
“We don’t understand what kind of football was being played on Saturday and the referee failed to stamp his authority on the match. The player has returned to Kariba and would further be checked there but an x-ray conducted after the match showed that he has a deep dislocation which is not really different from breaking a leg.
“I will also give my report and my recommendations on what should be done so that full attention is given to the injury and that the boy recovers.
“It is so sad and painful as he was driving the team and enjoying his game. Even if that player was my player I would not stomach that and would simply ask him to go play for another team as I cannot stand such a cruel player.
“It was clear that he went for the player with an intention to harm and not with an intention of getting the ball. He was second to the ball and was already beaten but deliberately tackled someone. “He got a red card but you will only be on the sidelines for two games but the victim maybe sidelined for months or won’t be able to play football again.
“Football is a sport people are supposed to enjoy and players’ express themselves, if one is good at passing, dribbling or scoring simply do that and not rough play and injuring others,” Chaminuka said.
The coach said he could not just control his emotions and felt for the player.
“He says he is in pain and he is stressed,” Chaminuka said.
Nyikadzino said it was a very unfortunate incident which no coach would condone and the tackle was unwarranted and “as a coach and a father I was also affected. “That was an unfortunate incident and no coach would condone such tackles. I realised it might have been out of frustration and emotions and as a coach I am not happy at all because at the end of the day we are all football people,” Nyikadzino said. Nyikadzino however, warned against a hate campaign against Mbvuvarira who he said was also left feeling bad after his action.
Meanwhile, Harare City will be looking for maximum points when they host Bantu Rovers at Rufaro this afternoon.
The two teams are in the lower echelons of the log and are separated by three points and it should be game on at Rufaro in a match which will also be televised on SuperSport.
Online Reporter