The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter
A TENAX player, Wirimai Mukudo, hogged the limelight after he refused to be substituted as his team sought to make a change in search of an equaliser in this afternoon’s Castle Lager Premiership match against FC Platinum at Sakubva Stadium.
The hosts went on to lose the match 0-2 to the defending champions.
With his team trailing 0-1, Mukudo ignored the signal on the fourth match official’s raised electronic board signaling his substitution for Theophelous Musiteyi in the second half.
Musiteyi had to momentarily retreat to the bench as Mukudo spiritedly resisted his substitution.
Action then resumed, with fans from the terraces booing the player for his defiance.
A second attempt to substitute him several minutes later was met with resistance again by Mukudo, forcing a supporter to briefly invade the pitch in protest over the player’s conduct.
Mukudo eventually continued with the game after twice refusing to be substituted and another player had to be sacrificed for Musiteyi to come on.
Tenax coach Shadreck “Father” Mugurasave expressed dismay over the player’s conduct, saying he will be punished.
“The club executive was around and saw what happened; they are going to deal with it. As the technical department, we are disappointed and will punish him. If it means deregistering him because of what he did, I am the first person who is going to recommend that,” said Mugurasave.
Mugurasave expressed confidence that his team will avoid relegation despite the loss. The prisons and correctional services outfit are battling for survival in their maiden season in the top-flight.
Said Mugurasave: “We are still in the game and will fight until the end. It is unfortunate we lost today’s match as I thought we matched them but gave them soft goals.”
