DYNAMOS veteran captain Murape Murape has set himself on a collision course with a section of the club’s supporters following a social media spat this week, after some club fans suggested that he should retire from the game.
HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
This could further exacerbate the two parties’ often frosty relationship.
Murape, who turned 34 on June 1, reacted angrily to a post by a Dynamos supporter Takesure Kativhu on Dynamos Facebook page Dembare Dotcoms who suggested that the veteran player had “reached his expiry date” and should retire.
Kativhu also listed Washington Pakamisa, Farai Mupasiri, Thomas Magorimbo, Tichaona Mabvura, Patrick Kumbula, Simba Sithole, Clive Kawinga, Milton Makopa, Victor Kamhuka, Oscar Machapa and Russel Madamombe as some of the players in the current Dynamos squad who should either retire or be offloaded by the team.
“These guys listed have done their part at Dembare. They have reached their expiry date so we have to let them go and bring new blood who are hungry for glory (sic). We want some serious guys to replace these ones for the better future of our beloved team Dembare,” wrote Kativhu.
At which Murape, using the Facebook account Murape C Murape responded: “No one is going anywhere. If you want you can go report that to the police. What I see in you is lack of respect on the part of players and the coach and the team itself. Your duty as a supporter is to support the team and it should end there. If your father gets old, would you court another man for your mother? You are so dull. I say Kativhu is a misguided idiot.”
Murape continued: “Your small talk and canal mind won’t change things at Dynamos, it has more than 10 million supporters who have no time to insult the players, coaches, executive, directors etc, but then again it’s a free world.
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“Dynamos is not about Murape, my time as a player will surely come to an end, but I will always be there in another capacity. I’m going nowhere.” The posts generated a lot of comments with some supporters saying Murape showed some serious lack of professionalism by responding while others including former Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova fought from the players’ corner.
Chigova, on his part is famous for breaking up a prayer by Highlanders players at Rufaro Stadium and then conceding a silly goal that saw the match end 1-1.
“A team captain who shouts at his supporters, and you wonder what is going on here,” wrote Prosper Wemhazi Chipangura.
“Murape must be professional. Look at players such as Rooney (Wayne, Manchester United and England) who are called worse things by their supporters, but they will never retaliate because they are professional. That is why you are paid small amounts like $300 because you act like boozers,” wrote Baba Natasha Gani.
Brighton Gwirambira said: “If the Facebook chat you posted is true then Murape is really misguided. Does Murape have a manager? This guy must not respond to fans’ opinion. That’s very unprofessional for Murape to post such statements on Facebook. I personally like Murape, but it seems intellect is not resident in this old man’s head.”
However, Muchi L Ndari responded: “Since when did supporters decide who goes and who stays? We are there to support and not to coach. “George Chigova I salute you King (Mura). What goes away so cheaply is electricity.”
When contacted for a comment, Murape said the account was not his, claiming that it was an imposter who “sympathises with me”. “I am not on Facebook and that account is not mine. Why would I clash with my own supporters?” said Murape.
