PATSON Jaure’s seven-match ban has lapsed and the Dynamos defender is expected to make his long-awaited comeback in his team’s Independence Cup final contest against FC Platinum at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
HENRY MHARA
The 23-year-old was handed the ban, plus a $2 000 fine in November last year following an altercation with referee Thabani Bamala during a league match between his team and Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on October 27.
While many had expected the defender to return later next month at the expiry of his team’s seven league matches since the ban was effected late last year, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) yesterday announced that Jaure was now free to return to action.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele explained: “The judgment clearly states that Jaure was to miss seven PSL-sanctioned matches. He missed four of Dynamos’ pre-season friendly matches which were PSL-sanctioned and had also previously missed the last match of the league against Black Mambas. He also missed two league matches against How Mine and ZPC Kariba this term, which means his ban has expired and he is free to play for his club again,” Ndebele said yesterday.
However, a closer look at Dynamos’ pre-season activities shows that Jaure was already eligible to play when ZPC Kariba visited last Sunday.
In addition to Dynamos’ last league match against Mambas last year which was Jaure’s first of the seven matches, the club went on to play pre-season friendly matches (all PSL-sanctioned) against Black Rhinos (twice), Chapungu and How Mine.
Then they also played the Independence Cup semi-final against Harare City three weeks ago, making Dynamos’ season opener against How Mine the last match Jaure should have sat out because of the ban.
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Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha yesterday said they were well aware that Jaure’s ban had expired after the How Mine match, but they received the clearance letter from PSL late for him to play against ZPC Kariba.
“The PSL had requested for all the team sheets from the games in question and we only received the letter late on Friday,” Chikengezha said.
Jaure’s return will no doubt be a welcome relief to Dynamos ahead of their Independence Cup final match against the platinum miners.
It was not clear yesterday if Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa would gamble by immediately reinstating Jaure back into the squad for the big match, or to stick with Sydney Linyama and Themba Ndlovu who looked very uncomfortable on numerous occasions against ZPC kariba.
Pasuwa, just like FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa, are hard-pressed to win the match following a dreadful start to the season.
Dynamos, who are the Independence Cup defending champions, have picked three points from a possible six, while their opponents today have one point to show for their efforts in the league this far.
While Dynamos welcome Jaure back into the squad, they are still missing three key players Tawanda Muparati, Ocean Mushure and Masimba Mambare through injury.
FC Platinum, on the other hand, are also missing the services of Ali Sadiki and Aaron Katebe who are on trials with TP Mazembe, while Njabulo Ncube will also miss the match because of an injury.
The winner of this match will pocket $15 000 and the losing team will get $5 000 less.
