adminPaul Mundandi Zvishavane Correspondent
SHABANIE Mine coach John Phiri is unhappy at the asbestos miners. Phiri who has been credited with rebuilding Shabanie Mine says he is still to pen a contract with the miners. His players are also living miserable lives as they are living at a clinic and are still to be offered proper accommodation. “I am still to sign a contract. I do not have a company car and if I use my car they do not give me fuel. My players have no decent accommodation and at times they fail to get food resulting in me using my funds. One of the directors Samson (Gondwe) is the only one who bails us and I do not know what would have happened if he was not around,” said Phiri.
A number of people had predicted that Shabanie would be the whipping boys this season after more than 23 players left the asbestos miners including coach Luke Masomere who joined Buffaloes before the season started.
However, Phiri has proved them wrong as he has not lost a match at home since taking over the reins from former Dynamos, Caps United, Hwange and Masvingo gaffer, Masomere.
The players are staying at a clinic in Maglas and up to three share a room. Others are staying in a high density suburb house in Kandodo and have to travel up to two kilometres thrice a day to have breakfast, lunch and supper.
The players are still to get their signing-on fees and are owed $450 in bonuses for the victories over Bantu Rovers and Chiredzi and drawn games against Chapungu (away) and Dynamos at home.
“We have not received our salaries, signing-on fees and our bonuses. They are just promising and I hope they will do something soon. We do not even know the executive even after playing nine games,” said a player who requested anonymity.
The executive is yet to hold a meeting this season.
Efforts to get a comment from club secretary Pithius Shoko proved fruitless as he was saying he was in meetings since Thursday last week.
derick.khumalo