adminhis opponents that the asbestos miners will rise again on Sunday and collect maximum points to avoid the dreaded chop at the end of the season.
The Chinda Boys will host Kiglon at Maglas once a Shabanie fortress before the miners fell on hard times.
Masomere is not under illusions about the task at hand and yesterday expressed his admiration of the team that Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe and Rodwell Dhlakama have assembled as Kiglon also aim to avoid relegation.
“Kiglon play better football than Blue Ribbon. I watched them play at Mucheke and they have young players who can play from morning until sunset.
“They are very good from both wings and their wingbacks are very dangerous and support each other when attacking”.
Masomere also said he is not losing sleep over their 2-0 Mbada Diamonds Cup first round exit at the hands of Gunners at Nyamhunga stadium in Kariba.
“We lost the cup and not the league. It was a blessing in disguise. It would have been okay to concentrate on the cup if we were in mid-table like Gunners or Black Mambas.
“I don’t think there is a team that is fighting relegation that will go far. If it does go far in the Mbada Cup then that team will automatically be relegated. We will now concentrate on the league. My players are not very serious as some talk too much on the pitch instead of concentrating on playing and at times I have to remind them,” Masomere said
Before Shabanie Mine’s match against Blue Ribbon it is rumoured that some of their senior players went nightclubbing and only left the bar in the early hours of the morning.
Masomere took a swipe at his charges soon after their 4-0 drubbing by Blue Ribbon and reckoned that at least seven of his players were never in the game at Ascot.
“The very same team that lost to Blue Ribbon is going to rise again and deliver on Sunday and collect maximum points. They can’t let the club sink. I am not going to leave them out of the team although our situation is bad. I am urging them to minimise mistakes on the pitch and instead play good football. We might be fourth from the bottom but even Blue Ribbon can be threatened with relegation as well. We just
need to win two games and we will go up,” said Masomere.
The much travelled coach also rallied behind his first choice goalkeeper Roy Mazingi.
Mazingi has been getting a lot of pressure from fans and he was blamed for Blue Ribbon’s first goal off a free-kick taken from the edge of the box in the 18th minute. But Masomere leapt to his keeper’s defence
“Ronaldo, Kaka, Lionel Messi and Beckham can miss a penalty. When one makes a mistake at Shabanie then it becomes a problem. Roy is a good goalkeeper. He is my first choice and as usual I will give him maximum support. When he concedes a goal it will be a result of something which would have happened infield. I had no midfield andd my strikeforce was toothless in the Blue Ribbon match”.
Shabanie were missing Phillimon Mudune, Tarisai Rukanda, Lennon Chisunga and William Ngonya through injury.
“I still make the plea. We are sorry to all Shabanie Mine fans, the sponsors and whoever is associated with the team. We let you down on the day but on Sunday we will get the maximum points for you. Do not lose heart. We need you “Masomere said
The miners will pin their hopes on midfielder Chisunga, former Eiffel Wildcats and Motor Action defensive player Tafadzwa Mombeshora to carry the day for them.
Michael Mageja and Junius Chizororo who played below par will however still be expected to again to lead the attack.
Defender turned striker Zvenyika Makonese is also expected to bounce back after being relegated to the bench in the last match.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter