adminthe 19th of September after knocking out Hwange in the first round. They made the booking through coach Luke Masomere, secretary Elias Marufu and committee member Henry Moyo.
But FC Platinum are understood to have made the booking last week and told one of the employees that the asbestos miners were struggling and had no money to stay at such a facility.
Shabanie Mine allege that an FC Platinum official working together with Premier Soccer League administrator Cuthbert Mutandwa then managed to elbow them out and booked them at another lodge.
The move drew the ire of the Shabanie executive, the team and supporters who threatened to stone one of the cars belonging to the lodge as they felt the PSL were working in cahoots with FC Platinum to have them ousted in the cup.
“The playing field is no longer level and Mutandwa thinks since we are working kumine ndiko kwatakakurira. We have houses in Harare and maybe tinotomukunda.
He must not underestimate me and force me to do things which we do not want to do as a club,” said the fuming Elias Marufu the asbestos miners secretary. Marufu however lowered his tone when he wrote an email to the PSL which is in the hands of this publication.
“Shabanie Mine FC is not happy to have been booked at Panorama Lodge for the Mbada quarter-final match without their consent.
“The club had asked to be booked at POTE Lodge but for some strange reason that could not be. We then learnt through PSL booking schedule that our neighbours FC Platinum are booked at POTE lodge and Shabanie Mine FC at Panorama Lodge.
“Under the circumstances, we suggest you instead book Shabanie Mine FC at Runde Lodge not Panorama Lodge. I have already visited Runde Lodge to check the availability of accommodation for the team.
The accommodation is short with four (4) rooms which is said to have been booked by PSL. May you facilitate that the PSL guys move to Panorama Lodge instead. We are appealing for equal treatment of all the PSL teams by your office in deeds not in words,” said Marufu in an email.
Clever Pote the director and owner of Pote Hill Lodge admitted that Shabanie had booked first. “They came after the Hwange game and I thought they would pay in time or write an official letter that they had booked here. The approached me first that they had wanted to use the lodge before Platinum. I think I have been messed in the football politics,” he said. Mutandwa has not been a favourite to
Shabanie Mine football club as the club thinks he wants them out of the league as he always frustrates them.
He once ordered Mars to come from Masvingo his hometown to Zvishavane for the asbestos miners’ home matches yet Shabanie Mine have a hospital with state of the art facilities that caters for more than 3000 employees and private patients. Mutandwa never consulted Shabanie.
Shabanie also charged that when the miners’ played Gunners in Harare in the reverse fixture Mutandwa only advised them that Caleb Masocha was suspended for accumulating three yellow cards on Friday afternoon when the player was already at Cresta Lodge with the team. During that time Kenny Ndebele was in Zambia.
“Mutandwa always messes things all the time and I doubt his professionalism. When Kenny is there we receive official communication on Wednesday with the games a player accumulated the yellow card being indicated but Mutandwa just grabs and phones you on a Friday around 1400hrs,’ he added.
Pote who runs a chain of shops in the town was once a committee member for the asbestos miners but he dumped them last year when he was invited to join FC Platinum. The miners they were struggling during that time and Pote in return he got a contract with Mimosa the owners.
The Shabanie Mine fans have vowed not to buy groceries from his shop and have called on rival owner Redstar to have a shop.
“It could have been a business decision but Pote should have considered the first come first served basis. We know he has been given a contract to carry concentrate to South Africa and in December the Mimosa employees will be coming for Christmas shopping with vouchers to his supermarket.
“He should have balanced and he must not force us to go on a de-campaigning exercise. Our fans do their shopping at his supermarket but he is showing us that the shop belongs to FC Platinum.
leeroy
Online Reporter