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NewsDay

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Masomere quits Masvingo

Sport
Veteran nomadic coach Luke “Vahombe” Masomere, cornered by endemic problems at Masvingo United, has dumped the Premiership returnees for Shabanie Mine, NewsDay Sport can reveal. The award winning coach, who rejoined Masvingo United when it bounced back into the premiership at the start of this season, threw in the towel on Wednesday and has assumed […]

Veteran nomadic coach Luke “Vahombe” Masomere, cornered by endemic problems at Masvingo United, has dumped the Premiership returnees for Shabanie Mine, NewsDay Sport can reveal.

The award winning coach, who rejoined Masvingo United when it bounced back into the premiership at the start of this season, threw in the towel on Wednesday and has assumed his new post at Shabanie.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Masomere confirmed his move, saying he resigned “under protest” due to the many problems that have rocked Una Una since the beginning of the season.

“I have resigned with immediate effect from Masvingo United, the team that I so liked and a project that I have been part of since its inception. But I am very angry because I did not want to leave the team that I worked so hard for. Masvingo is my home town, so it is my home team,” said Masomere.

Masomere’s departure comes shortly after senior players left the team over non-payment in a move that has been blamed for the poor showing of the team soon after the incident.

Masvingo registered thirteen greenhorns from Division One and although they were giving their all in the preceding matches, the team tasted its first defeat at home last weekend at the hands of Motor Action when it lost 3-1.

In the previous back-to-back match with Chicken Inn, the fielded new team also lost by three goals to nil. Masomere refused to divulge more reasons for his departure, although it is linked to monetary problems. “There are a lot of problems there, but I do not want to go deeper,” Masomere said.

In the last game with Motor Action at home, Masvingo United sponsor Petros Mutema — whose business fortunes have been waning ever since he took over the team from Tanda Tavaruva, of the depleted Mhunga fleet — left the stadium in a huff after angry supporters bayed for his blood, demanding the return of the departed players while also blaming Mutema for the team’s bad run.

Observes also said Masomere, an award-winning coach, could have left as he wants to protect his image since he has been fielding a mediocre team.

After his last game with Masvingo, Masomere blamed the team’s loss on the expulsion of the senior players. “We are starting from scratch, as you can see this is a new team. Other players have left, but we will manage,” he said.

Shabanie chairman Webster Chitonho told our Midlands Correspondent: “I cannot deny or confirm that we have hired Luke Masomere. I cannot even say we have engaged him in discussions.

“But just know that something is happening and we will let you know tomorrow (today). There are things we are trying to sort out. If I say anything at this point and time I might end up telling you lies. So we want to give you accurate information.”