adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CHARISMATIC How Mine FC gaffer Luke Masomere says fans put coaches under pressure by unnecessarily demanding wins every time. In an unsolicited interview yesterday, the veteran coach, who christened himself the “Doctor of Football”, said supporters’ demands have made the lives of coaches difficult as they can’t operate freely.
The much-travelled coach said: “There is no clause in our contracts which says if we lose we should be beaten. This is football and in football there are three results — a win, draw and a loss. Supporters must stop putting coaches under unnecessary pressure. We can’t win all the games.”
To date, Highlanders’ coach Bongani Mafu is the only PSL gaffer this season to have had fans expressing their agitation through a peaceful demonstration after losing to Chapungu 0-1 in their last league game.
On Monday, legendary Madinda Ndlovu stepped down from his Township Rollers of Botswana post after a confrontation with that team’s supporters following a 1-2 loss to Rahman Gumbo’s Gaborone United in a Mascom Top 8 final.
Masomere, whose side will be involved in a Bulawayo derby with Chicken Inn on Saturday, wants fans to be patient with the coaches when results are not going their way.
He said the league competition is a marathon where those who start well might lose steam as the season progresses and those who would have taken off on a bad note might get it right at the end of the season.
Quizzed whether he was faced with restless fans at How Mine following his side’s failure to collect maximum points in the two identical 0-0 draws at home against Chapungu (Week One) and Harare City on Week Five, Masomere said he is at peace.
How Mine — yet to lose a match — are on position four with nine points after five games and a victory on Saturday will see them leapfrog Chicken Inn.
After bringing on board a number of high profile players like Charles Sibanda, Tawanda Muparati, Limited Chikafa, Munyaradzi Diya and Devon Chafa during the off-season, expectations were high that How Mine would launch a strong title challenge.
The seasoned players were expected to make an immediate impact but injuries have been How Mine’s biggest undoing.
Masomere also blamed the media for his team’s misfortunes, saying the coverage of How Mine’s capture of high profile players had heaped pressure on the club.
“We’ve been dealing with pressure from the media who happen to have a ploy to derail our plans. You guys talk of How Mine having an expensively assembled and star studded club, where are you getting that? Who are you comparing our squad with? We will not be giving into the unnecessary pressure coming from the media and we will do our job to the best of our abilities,” he said.
“As a coach I’m even very satisfied with the two points we got from Luveve Stadium because as it is we happen to be among the few who are yet to lose. Actually we are moving in the right direction towards attaining positive results.”
Turning to the Chicken Inn derby, Masomere said veteran central defender Gilbert Banda is back from injury and is available for selection.
Also returning to full training are Godfrey Nguwodzawo, Nyasha Mukumbi and Timothy January.
Muparati — the 2013 Premiership Soccer Star of the Year — has been ruled out alongside Chafa and leftback James Chitereki.
Fixtures
Saturday: Chicken Inn v How Mine (Luveve), Harare City v Dynamos (Rufaro), Flame Lily v Triangle United (Lafarge), Whawha v FC Platinum (Ascot)
Sunday: Caps United v ZPC Kariba (National Sports Stadium), Dongo Sawmill v Highlanders (Vengere), Chapungu v Hwange (Ascot), Tsholotsho v Buffaloes (White City).
Online Reporter