AFRICAN safari flops How Mine and Dynamos lock horns in their first Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Luveve Stadium this weekend after bowing out of the continental Caf competitions. SPORTS REPORTER
How Mine are fresh from a 0-2 defeat to Bayelsa United FC in Nigeria bowing out of the Orange Caf Confederation Cup on a 2-3 goal aggregate after winning the first leg of the second round 2-1 at Barbourfields Stadium.
League champions DeMbare crashed out of the Caf Champions League on March 9 after losing 0-1 to AS Vita in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the two sides’ goalless draw at the National Sports Stadium a week earlier.
The two sides’ pre-season has been relatively competitive and the weekend tie promises fireworks.
Could How Mine be re-engaging in their 2013 giant killing act on the local scene after they stunned the Glamour Boys with a 1-0 win at Luveve Stadium in July last year in a league match?
There was chaos last year as Luveve Stadium proved not to be a suitable venue for the match featuring the country’s biggest club Dynamos, with parking space a challenge for fans outside the facility, while inside the stadium was filled to capacity.
How Mine arrived from Nigeria on Monday and club chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo yesterday said they were returning to Luveve for the Dynamos match.
“We are playing at Luveve Stadium where we beat them last year,” Nkomo said.
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Simba Sithole, who is now at Ajax Cape Town in the Absa PSL, scored the solitary goal as early as the 21st minute to ensure How Mine’s victory over Dynamos.
Beating Dynamos again at the weekend, would bring comfort to the gold miners, who endured dastardly behaviour at the hands of the Nigerians in Sapele, where some of their players were assaulted before the start of the second half.
How Mine, coached by 2008 coach of the year Philani “Beefy” Ncube, pose a real threat in the league with one of the strongest squads that boasts Kudakwashe Musharu, Thembani “Smaller” Masuku, Menard Mupera, Timothy January and the enterprising youthful pair of Edmore Muzanenhamo and Emmanuel Mandiranga.
They have experienced goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura and the defence of Gilbert Banda, Nyasha Mukumbi, Brighton Dube and Morris Kadzola.
Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s charges troop to Bulawayo to defend their title without Partson Jaure and Masimba Mambare and to avenge that 0-1 defeat by How Mine last year.
Before the defeat, Dynamos had walloped How Mine 3-0 in the reverse league fixture in Harare, but on their return to the capital, the gold miners booted DeMbare out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Masuku goal.
Mambare is out injured while Jaure is serving suspension, but the Glamour Boys still have Ronald Chitiyo, Clive Kawinga, Cliff Sekete, Tawanda Muparati and Stephen Alimenda in their books.
The match might also see the return of Devon Chafa in midfield while striker Simba Sithole has been struggling with injury.
