Jaure comes under fire

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
IT’S very likely that Dynamos centre-back Partson Jaure could miss the remainder of the season with his two-match ban for being sent off in the Battle of Zimbabwe set to be extended following his lunge on referee Thabani Bamala.Jaure had to be restrained by his teammates as he furiously charged towards Bamala, apparently incensed by the referee’s decision to show him a red card, for his clash with Highlanders striker Njabulo Ncube in the first half at Barbourfields.

Dynamos won the tense encounter 1-0 courtesy of Ocean Mushure’s penalty to climb back to the top of the table in this tight Premiership race that also involves Highlanders, Harare City and FC Platinum, with CAPS United also in with a remote chance.

The top-of-the-table clash, which featured the country’s biggest teams, lived up to its pre-match hype as around 16 500 people paid through the turnstiles to watch the match leaving Highlanders with a gross income of US$95 000.

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele yesterday said the league can only take disciplinary action against Jaure once they have received an independent report from the match officials.

“I cannot say anything at the moment. Normally we review the matches after receiving reports from the referee and the match commissioner.

“So we might only be able to comment on that by tomorrow (today) because everything depends on how the match officials put it. I wouldn’t want to sound like prejudicing the whole process,” said Ndebele.

But it’s unlikely that Bamala will be soft, in his report, on Jaure. The Zimbabwe international defender’s violent response was disgusting and washed away the sympathy that his unfortunate dismissal was supposed to generate and, if he could be that violent to a referee, then what about a fellow player?

Jaure was roundly condemned by football fans who inundated The Herald with phone calls yesterday demanding disciplinary action from the league.

The defender will miss the Glamour Boys’ next matches against Triangle and Shabanie Mine because of the red card offence.  Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha said they have since talked to their player and warned him against his emotional behaviour although they were not quite happy with the referee’s decision to send him off on Sunday.

“Obviously we don’t condone the behaviour. That was really uncalled for and we told the player that we don’t expect that at Dynamos and we wouldn’t want that to happen again,” said Chikengezha.

“If you are a player and it happens that you get red carded you just have to walk away because it’s the referee’s decision even if you feel you didn’t deserve that.

“I was there in Bulawayo when it happened and in my opinion Partson did not deserve that red card. Of course, he reacted the way he did but the referee was not supposed to send away both players in the first place.

“He had challenged for the ball and in the process impeded Njabulo Ncube which under normal circumstances was a yellow card. Then the Highlanders player retaliated and that was a red card.”

Despite that incident, Dynamos made a huge statement when they defied the odds to beat title contenders Highlanders and reclaim top spot.

DeMbare showed character to win, at the home of their biggest rivals, to keep alive their championship campaign. Dynamos had struggled in their matches outside Harare and many had not given them a chance ahead of their trip to Bulawayo as they trailed Highlanders by two points in the championship race.

But history favoured them and on Sunday they again rose to the stage to maintain a seven-year unbeaten run against Highlanders thanks to a late penalty, which was won and converted by Mushure, with two minutes remaining on the clock.

Dynamos now lead the pack with 48 points, equal with plucky Harare City who edged Buffaloes 2-1, but the Harare giants, who are chasing a record 20th title, are enjoying the advantage of superior goal difference.

Highlanders slipped to third on 47 points while FC Platinum dismissed Shabanie Mine to maintain a strong presence with 45 points.
“It’s now quite interesting because there are only four games remaining for each team. If you look closely the teams involved in the race have one or two tricky fixtures ahead and the team that continues to play more consistently will win the championship,” said Chikengezha.

“It looks like we have one hand on the title but we would need to continue with the fighting spirit that we demonstrated at Barbourfields.
“As long as we win all our remaining matches we will be on the safe side but Triangle are likely to be party-spoilers for us and Highlanders. I heard they are playing well and are coming from a big win,” said Chikengezha.

Dynamos will face Triangle at Gibbo this weekend while Highlanders travel to Harare to face relegated former champions Motor Action.
Harare City will also be on the road to Black Rhinos as FC Platinum host Chicken Inn.

With the Castle Lager Premiership marathon now heading towards the finishing line, PSL chief executive Ndebele said teams involved in the championship race and those that are fighting to avoid relegation would play their matches simultaneously as from Week 28.

Former champions Motor Action and newcomers Tripple B were relegated at the weekend after losing their matches and Monomotapa, Black Rhinos, Black Mambas, Hwange, Shabanie Mine, How Mine and Buffaloes are all technically not safe.

Ndebele said the move to play important matches at the same time will minimise chances of manipulating results.
“We are working on that especially for teams in the top four of the log table and those with points between 26 and 34.  These teams should be playing their games at the same time but there is also the issue of venues which need serious consideration.

“Everything, though, will be clear after the Week 27 games this weekend,” said Ndebele.
The Week 28 games will be played during the midweek on November 13-14, after the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals scheduled for November 9-10.

The Castle Lager Premiership season is set to conclude on November 24.  The Mbada Diamonds Cup final will then bring the curtain down on November 30.