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Raymond Jaravaza
MUTARE City Rovers goalkeeper Mark Makuyana was nabbed for stealing a packet of beef at a supermarket and later let off the hook after the club paid a fine of $20.
The shoplifting incident occurred at TM Supermarket in Sakubva suburb in the eastern region city last weekend. The meat was valued at $3.
According to a source, the penniless Makuyana could not pay the fine himself claiming the Premier Soccer League debutantes had not paid his salary for the past three months.
However, club spokesperson Clayton Masekesa, while condemning acts of shoplifting by anyone associated with the club said none of their players were owed salaries by the municipality owned team.
a�?Mark is our third choice goalkeeper, he has not been getting winning bonuses because he hasna��t been making it into the first team but he has been receiving his monthly salary on time and in full. Ita��s deplorable for him to claim that he was forced to steal the meat because he has not been paid his salary.
a�?The club paid a fine of $20 at Chisamba Police Station in Sakubva,a�? said Masekesa.
For dragging the name of the club through the mud the goalie will appear before a disciplinary committee.
a�?We condemn such acts from anyone associated with the club and as such the player will appear before our disciplinary committee. His mischief has, unfortunately, brought the name of the club into disrepute and stern measures will be taken against him,a�? he said.
Meanwhile, turning to the cluba��s prospects of surviving relegation the Mutate City Rovers spokesperson reckons the team must win their remaining matches and not rely on the results of other teams for survival.
a�?The position we find ourselves in calls for us to win all our remaining matches. If we do the job ourselves then we will not have to depend on other teams to do us favours,a�? he added.
With five games remaining before the curtain comes down on the 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Mutare City Rovers find themselves involved in a relegation catfight with Tsholotsho FC and Border Strikers.
Seven points separate the three teams.
The bottom two clubs will be relegated at the end of the season.
Online Reporter