Masomere doesn’t want Ruzive Ruzive

Masomere doesn’t want to see him playing a part tomorrow.
Memories are still fresh in the Shabanie Mine camp of the controversial penalty that Ruzive handed FC Platinum, when the former were battling for survival and the latter for the championship, in the last meeting between the two sides at Mandava.
Masomere, who helped his team survive relegation despite that controversial 0-1 defeat at the hands of their neighbours, has now taken Shabanie to the top of the Premiership table.
Yesterday, the outspoken coach claimed that tasking Ruzive to handle tomorrow’s match would be tantamount to disturbing the peace prevailing in the town.
“We do not want people like Ruzive. People should not travel 389 kilometres to disturb peace in a small community like Zvishavane.We have our peace here and we need it,” said Masomere.
“We want Fair Play.
“We love each other in Zvishavane, after the match we have a drink together as coaches and executive members and we can’t be enemies in a small town where we meet on a daily basis.
“The distance between Maglas and Mandava Stadium is just one kilometer and we have only three drinking spots in the town but we ended up being enemies and we are no longer talking to each other because of Ruzive.
“The penalty he awarded last season was dubious and he knows that. The penalty caused divisions in Zvishavane among the Shabanie Mine and FC Platinum fans.
“I am, however, appealing for peace on Saturday. Tensions should be normal when we clash with FC Platinum and whoever is coming to officiate the match tomorrow should not come and disturb our peace.”
Shabanie players and fans believe Ruzive was wrong to award FC Platinum a penalty in that game last season as there was no contact between Donald Ngoma and defender Smart Muchabayiwa when the Kugona Kunenge Kudada striker went down in the box.
After the match Ngoma claimed that he was tripped Muchabayiwa.
Days later, some Shabanie fans who had a video recording of the game confronted Ngoma to demonstrate that he took a dive.
Masomere said tomorrow’s game was huge for the Shabanie fans.
“The game on Saturday is a big game to the Zvishavane fans but to me and my technical department it is a normal game because we are playing for three points,” said Masomere.
“If we lose to them they will get three points and if we win we will get three points and that is not an achievement. It is not a decider and if we lose we can still collect points from the next match and they can still do the same.
“Hardbody have lost three matches and they can still go on and win the championship.Monomotapa lost their first four games but went on to win the league under coach Mapeza (Norman).
“We are however ready for the match and like Platinum we are also planning to win the match but as I said, it is just an ordinary game we will do our best and we are ready”.
Masomere, who last year blasted local referees, said he now had a change of heart and understood the pressure they worked under.
“I no longer doubt our local referees. Last season some of them assisted some teams to win. There was a Zimbabwegate unfolding but, from the matches I have watched this season, I have to say I am impressed with the improved standards of refereeing,” said Masomere.
“I am urging my fellow coaches to desist from the culture of blaming match officials when their team loses in order to safeguard their jobs. Let’s give credit to the referees and if they make a mistake, let’s take it as a mistake because the referee is also a player.
“A player can miss a penalty but do we kill him? A referees is also a player and let’s not kill him. Some mistakes are genuine but some are deliberate.
“The Shabanie fans must come in numbers and support the team as they have been doing. They are a marvelous group and they inspired my guys to come from a goal down, winning 2-1 against Rangers.
“Our sponsors have done a lot with the donations, especially Vadette, who have offered us accommodation. We are moving in the right direction and we are going to continue working hard and delivering.”