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Paul Mundandi in ZVISHAVANE
FIVE months ago Luke Masomere was out of football, serving a ban for the part he allegedly played in the Asiagate match-fixing scandal and his club Shabanie Mine were stuck deep in the woods.Masomere was jobless and his hopes lay in his bold decision to challenge his ban and Shabanie’s faith in him which saw the club’s leadership deciding not to appoint a head coach until his case was determined.
It’s common cause now that Masomere won his battle to return to the game that he loves and today, the self-proclaimed doctor of domestic football, will bath in the bright sunshine that comes with taking his team to the Cup final.
Masomere’s return has revitalised Shabanie and they will go into the BancABC Sup8r Cup final showdown against town rivals FC Platinum with a good chance of winning the silverware and the US$120 000 cheque that comes with that.
Yesterday, Masomere basked in the limelight of his club’s sensational journey to get to the Sup8r Cup final, which will provide confirmation of his return from the darkness of being an outcast in the game to one of its beloved figures.
“I am dedicating the match to the fans who love me and I love them too,” said Masomere.
“I was suspended by Zifa and they supported me, I am happy to see them celebrating and even if at times I fail to get my salary I am not worried because I will be paying them back.
“I have to work for them and I want them to come and fill the stadium with our colours tomorrow (today).
“I respect FC Platinum because they are a very good institution. They have improved the stadium, they have quality players.
“I grew up in Mandava and the stadium was not like this and I want to thank them for that.
“Today I am saying my respect is over and it’s going to be like that until after 90 minutes tomorrow.
“It’s just that I am afraid of match-fixing.
“If it was not for that I could have phoned Kenny (Ndebele, PSL chief executive) and asked him to take the trophy straight to the Shabanie Mine FC cabinet because it’s ours and it belongs to us.”
Masomere and his team trained at Mandava on Thursday. A handful of Shabanie Mine fans, with some waving flags, attended the training session.
There was, however, tension as they were initially denied access by FC Platinum officials who claimed they feared the fans would smear juju on some parts of the pitch.
Masomere, predictably, was livid.
“There are some people who are still living in ancient times who must know that juju does not play football but proper planning and training is the key,” Masomere.
“Football is dynamic and scientific and people must accept change.
“Players are told to jump the fence, to enter the pitch, wearing sandals and only wearing their football boots in the pitch.
“Nobody has seen Wayne Rooney doing that at Manchester United and even our neighbours in South Africa do not do that and I urge my fellow coaches who are still doing that to stop living in the past but to accept change.”
Masomere was bubbling with confidence yesterday.
“My message to FC Platinum is hands off our trophy. It belongs to us and they must know that they are coming to Mandava Stadium to entertain the fans and nothing else,” said Masomere.
Masomere did not take his charges for a penalty shoot-out practise session yesterday, saying he was confident everything would be settled inside the 90 minutes of regulation time.
His charges looked sharp, especially Caleb Masocha, who was combining well with Tarisai Rukanda in the last line of attack. Goalkeeper Victor Twaliki, the darling of the Shabanie fans, looks certain to retain his place between the posts after missing action last week due to a groin injury.
The ex-Gunners duo of Fungai Chirinda and Valentine Ndaba have also hit good form and Masomere is well served in defence by the likes of Pardon Marime, Blessed Mbavarira, Smart Muchabayiwa and Frankson Bushire.
Masomere might be tempted to use FC Platinum reject Solomon Ndlovu for the leftback role. Ndlovu’s favoured role is to play as an attacking midfielder.
But whichever way one looks at this game, when it comes to Shabanie Mine, it’s all about Masomere, the tough journey that he has travelled from the dark days of his time on the sidelines as he served a ban for a crime he says he never committed to his return to turn his team into a competitive side.
He is a very tough guy and you can only give him respect. And he has won that respect because he has done wonders at Shabanie and taken a team, which has the lowest budget when it comes to the Premiership, into the BancABC Sup8r Cup final.
It’s his golden moment and what remains to be seen is whether he emerges out of it as the ultimate winner or he would be walking home this evening with the losers’ medal.
Whatever the outcome, he won’t need to sell his cattle to provide his family with a meal as was the case during those dark days earlier this year.
Online Reporter