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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CHIBUKU Super Cup losing finalists Harare City may face the wrath of the Premier Soccer League after showing an enormous amount of indiscipline at the end of the high tempo final against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium on Sunday.Harare City lost the explosive final 1-3 after a penalty shootout. The two teams were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra time.
Led by their coach Masimba Dinyero, himself a former assistant coach at the platinum miners, Harare City players initially refused to go to the podium to receive their medals and prize money until an official from the league allegedly threatened them with sanctions if they continued with their behaviour.
The Sunshine boys were protesting against the way the match was handled by Harare referee Norman Matemera who awarded FC Platinum a goal that seemed not to have crossed the line deep into injury time. Harare City were leading 1-0 and thought had the game wrapped up. Matemera awarded FC Platinum a free kick which itself looked controversial and from the set piece, young Walter Musona brought his team level before they went on to win it on shootouts.
“We will issue a statement on the league’s position tomorrow (today) morning after going through the referees, match commissioners and security’s reports,” said the PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele yesterday.
During the after-match melee, Dinyero refused to receive his silver medal while his captain David Kutyauripo also allegedly uttered some bad words to the league president Twine Phiri.
Meanwhile, the league has expressed satisfaction with the general atmosphere of the final, only for the after match skirmishes.
“The atmosphere was good and we want to thank the Zvishavane community for responding well. We also want to thank our sponsors Delta Beverages for bringing back the Chibuku Super Cup,” said Ndebele.
The PSL head of secretariat said there was need to come up with a definite calendar of tournaments for planning purposes.
“It will also be good to confirm venue for the final well before even the start of tournaments so that we do away with some grumblings on why certain venues would have been chosen. Some people might think there is a sinister motive in the allocation of venues for the final but if it becomes public well on time all these suspicions will go,” said Ndebele.
He said the idea though, was subject to approval by the league’s board of governors.
Online Reporter