Premiership newcomers Quelaton host Shabanie Mine at Luveve Stadium tomorrow as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) gets into its second week.
Quelaton, coached by Thulani Sibanda, lost their first match 4-3 to Hwange at the Colliery last Saturday after putting up a fierce fight. Tomorrow, they should take advantage of the home crowd to subdue the former asbestos miners.
Shabanie Mine grabbed a point last week in a goalless draw with Caps United at Maglas Stadium in a match that could have given head coach Luke Masomere the confidence he wanted going into the 2012 season.
Quelaton have Premiership experience in goalkeeper Lovemore Makwavarara and Marshal Machazane. Fortune Nyambosi is sidelined due to injury.
Proud Zireni will not take part in the match tomorrow after he was sent off for a second bookable offence against Hwange.
Quelaton retained most of the players who spearheaded their promotion into the Premiership who include captain Innocent Kutsanzira, Tedius Mugumanya, Eddie Nkulumo and Timothy January.
Shabanie Mine, who last year survived the chop from the Premiership on the last day, grabbed Pevington Zimunya from Masvingo United. Masomere was happy to salvage a point last week from the Green Machine who played better than his team.
l Meanwhile, the PSL has referred the ownership wrangle between Shabanie Mine and Chicken Inn over teenage striker Tonderayi Charles to the Zifa Player Status Committee.
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Charles, who is currently training with Chicken Inn, is alleged to have signed deals with both clubs. The PSL last week refused to register the player after he was included in both teams’ 2012 squads submitted to the league.
Charles penned a three-year deal with the asbestos miners late last year after being paid $1 000, only to later resurface at Chicken Inn where he subsequently signed another contract. This situation is likely to set him on a collision course with the Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ).
The Bulawayo team signed the player on the strength of a clearance they received from his previous club, Central Soccer League outfit ZimAlloys, while Shabanie entered into a deal with the player without the blessing of Alloys.
PSL chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele said Shabanie and Chicken Inn have furnished him with copies of contracts the player is said to have signed and the matter is now being handled by the David Mpuli-chaired status committee.
FUZ yesterday issued a stern warning to players, saying they should be careful before rushing into deals which might not be in the best interest of the development of their careers.
PSL fixtures Tomorrow: Monomotapa v Harare City (Rufaro), Quelaton v Shabanie Mine (Luveve), Gunners v Motor Action (Gwanzura) Saturday: Caps United v Chicken Inn (Gwanzura) Sunday: Hardbody v Black Mambas (Ascot)
