HOW MINE step into the Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-finals as underdogs as they take a trip to Harare where they will play defending champions Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
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The gold miners, now known as giant killers in the Premier Soccer League in their maiden season in top-flight football, are limping after suffering a 0-3 home defeat to Black Rhinos in a league match at Luveve Stadium last Sunday.
After Zimbabwe Saints who beat Highlanders 6-5 in a penalty shoot-out in the first round of the inaugural Mbada Diamonds Cup in 2011, How Mine become the second team to sail through to the quarter-finals of the competition in the first year of promotion from Division One.
Head coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube yesterday said they travel to Harare wearing the underdog tag, but would play their normal game as Dynamos are under pressure to defend the cup.
“We are just going to play our normal game like in any other fixture, but it being a cup tie it’s a different ball game altogether. We are going there as underdogs, but we are not under any pressure at all.
“Dynamos have defended the title once and are out to make history by winning it for the third time. It will be them who will be under pressure. For us being in the quarter-final is an achievement. So far everything looks good for us as we prepare for that game,” Beefy said.
DeMbare coach Kalisto Pasuwa said there was a chance Simba Sithole could be part of the team on Sunday after doing well at training on Wednesday.
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Elsewhere in another quarter-final on Sunday, Highlanders will lock horns with Buffaloes at Mucheke Stadium where they were bundled out of the first round of the quarter-finals of the BancABC Sup8r Cup by FC Platinum 1-3 in a penalty shoot-out in June.
Tomorrow, Chicken Inn will take on Caps United at Ascot Stadium in Gweru while Hwange will be Beitbridge at Dulibadzimu with Harare City.
