admin . Raymond Jaravaza
ITa��S not nice to stand in front of a camera and say, a�?we suck!,a�?A� or a�?my players are the worst in the leaguea�? but it just has to be done.
Teams whose coaches avoid pre and post match interviews with the press will earn a fine of $500 for their clubs and $125 for themselves, the Premier Soccer League says.
This penalty was brought to life by Rahman Gumbo the Chicken Inn coach when he refused to address questions fielded by the media after his charges went down 0-1 against FC Platinum at Bulawayoa��s White City Stadium last Saturday.
a�?As the PSL we take action based on the report by the match commissioner as we do not act on hearsay. In the case of the Chicken Inn and FC Platinum game we are still waiting for the match report,a�? said PSL communications and liaisons officer Kudzai Bare.
According to our sister paper the Sunday News Gumbo stormed into the dressing rooms and declined to grant the media a post match interview.
If the report by the match commissioner states that he indeed snubbed the media Gumbo will be charged for breaching the PSL standing order number 12 which reads:
a�?For failure or refusal to conduct pre-match or post match interviews by the head coach, captain or player, a fine of USD125,00 will be imposed on the offending head coach, captain or player. The Club will be fined USD500.a�?
CAPS United head coach Lloyd Chitembwe has also on numerous occasions refused to grant interviews opting to delegate his assistant Tostao Kwashi.
Chitembwe did the same when Makepekepe lost 1-0 to Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium a fortnight ago.
Before being fired at Ngezi Platinum Clifton Kadurira blamed his teama��s 1-0 defeat to Bulawayo City at Barbourfields Stadium in May on a�?poora�? officiating and declined to address football writers in a post match interview.
Interestingly coaches avoid the press when their teams lose.
Online Reporter