Shabanie Mine gears for Bosso

Sport
SHABANIE Mine received the much-needed momentum ahead of their trip to face Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium this weekend with a top drawer performance demolishing Triangle 3-1 at Maglas Stadium on Sunday.

SHABANIE Mine received the much-needed momentum ahead of their trip to face Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium this weekend with a top drawer performance demolishing Triangle 3-1 at Maglas Stadium on Sunday.

MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The Chinda Boys executive recruited John “Senior” Phiri as their new head coach this season following the unceremonious departure of Luke Masomere to join Mutare-based army side Buffaloes.

Phiri is, however, enjoying differing fortunes from his predecessor whose charges succumbed to a 1-5 drubbing at the hands of Hwange in his opening match at the Colliery on Sunday.

It is the opening match results and the way Triangle were dismantled that gave the Chinda Boys followers the gut feeling that, perhaps, losing Masomere was a blessing in disguise.

But Phiri knows that it is time to move on though he praised his boys for a quick response to his type of play in a short space of time.

“We played very well against Triangle, but that game is now under the carpet and we have to look into our next game against Highlanders,” he said.

“We had a short pre-season and the whole squad was assembled a bit late, but I am very happy that the boys quickly adapted to the way I want them to play. The guys are responding very well at training and I see a bright season for us if we continue working hard.

“I have seen that God helps those who help themselves because we worked very hard to assemble our team and we are now seeing fruits of that hard work.”

Phiri has introduced a swift, shortpassing game at the asbestos miners with young Zvikomborero Bizeki being entrusted with pulling the strings in midfield.

The 21-year-old midfield anchorman was at his best on Sunday breaking opponents’ attack and initiating aids for his team as well in midfield.

Should he be on song together with his teammates, then they would have the potential to cause a huge upset in Bulawayo.

Bosso were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at the hands of PSL returnees Chapungu on Saturday and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways. Things have not been going well for Highlanders, even in pre-season, and they have failed to score in 450 minutes.

However, coach Kelvin Kaindu remains confident that something will “come out” of their efforts soon.