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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
Flame Lily . . . . . . . . . .(1)1
How Mine . . . . . . . . . . (1)1HOW Mine coach Luke Masomere is unhappy with the media for putting pressure on his team, by dubbing them an expensively assembled side, which should power to the league championship without breaking sweat.
Masomere said they simply signed players who were out of contract and there was no difference between his team and the others in the top-flight league.
Chikurupati drew first blood at Gwanzura yesterday in the 32nd minute through last year’s top goal-scorer, Kuda Musharu, but the hosts equalised via former Kiglon player Virimai Mukudo in the third minute of added time in the first half.
Both teams spurned chances with the Flame Lily duo of Macmillian Chigora and Motion Muponda unlucky to score while veterans Limited Chikafa, Charles Sibanda and Benjamin Marere failed to punish the newcomers.
A lot was expected from the Bulawayo team as they rolled into Harare.
It seems a sizeable number of CAPS United fans, who were at Gwanzura, also had a bone to chew with the outspoken coach who during the Easter weekend was quoted saying his team would have beaten the Green Machine 6-0.
The game was abandoned before the ball had been kicked.
“I don’t know where the media got the figures which make them say an expensively assembled team. I just bought players who were available at that time and didn’t have contracts.
“I don’t have any pressure myself and, hopefully, we will achieve our objectives. It wasn’t our day. We are just lucky we will go with a point. We were supposed to play CAPS United and we came here very fresh but, unfortunately, we didn’t deliver,” he said.
Masomere said he was happy picking a point on the road.
“I am really happy. It is a new team in the league but the coach is not new and the players are not new as well. They have good players. The game was okay, the draw wasn’t the fairest result but after conceding a soft goal we were now in a hurry but I am happy we are going back with a point,” said Masomere.
Flame Lily coach Nesbert Saruchera said he was satisfied by the team’s performance.
“We wanted to collect maximum points but I am very happy with my team’s performance, one day we will get it right.
“When we recruited young players I knew there is competition in the Premiership. I am going to get three points in my next game.”
The Harare side were the better team in the second half but they could not make it count.
Teams
Flame Lily: P. Chigumba, E. Kopeni, B. Chandisati, S. Jimu (T. Huwa 80th min), E. Madhanaga, G. Phiri, R. Kawondera, P. Chidawaya, V. Mukudo (P. Chinyama 50th min), M. Mupanda, M. Demera (M. Chigora 57th min).
How Mine: B. Donovan, M. Kadzola, N. Tachi, T. Kambuyani, J. Chitereki, M. Mupera, H. Masuku (B. Marere 75th min), T. Masuku, W. Sithole (C. Sibanda 58th min), L. Chikafa, K. Musharu (N. Ndale 87th min).
Online Reporter