AFTER collecting only a single point from a possible nine points, How Mine will be hoping to collect their first set of full points when they host Shabanie Mine in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Luveve Stadium tomorrow. Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter
Having bowed out of the Caf Confederations Cup, How Mine shifted focus to the local scene, but things have not been going as planned. They have begun the season on a wrong footing.
The Metallon Gold-sponsored side lost 0-1 to Dynamos in their season opener at Barbourfields Stadium through a Brighton Dube own goal.
Three more points went down the drain when the gold miners were trounced 1-3 by PSL returnees Bantu Rovers at Luveve before they salvaged a point from the 2-2 draw against league returnees Chapungu in Gweru on Sunday.
How Mine coach Philani Ncube was yesterday optimistic that his charges would come right against Shabanie Mine.
“We are treating each game as it comes. The single point that we picked against Chapungu is a sign of good things to come. We respect Shabanie Mine. They have a good technical team and they have been around. But we need to put our act together and overcome this bad spell,” Ncube said.
He blamed complacency for their loss to Bantu Rovers.
“When we played Bantu Rovers there was complacency and we thought we were the big boys. But it is not like that in football. We had a very tight programme when we played in Africa. The level of fitness of the players who were playing and those who haven’t been playing is not the same. But we hope that will improve. We are also hoping that come 5pm on Friday (tomorrow) we will be smiling,” he said.
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Ncube said Warren Dube was still out injured while Kuda Musharu, who was impressive in the Confederations Cup as well as Dube, were being assessed.
How Mine are 14th on the log table with a single point while Shabanie Mine are on position five with six points.
Shabanie Mine opened their 2014 account on a high note beating Triangle 3-1 at home, before getting a 1-4 thumping by Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium. The asbestos miners regrouped and managed to collect maximum points in a 2-0 win over Black Rhinos at Maglas Stadium on Sunday.
In the backdrop of How Mine’s performance in the first three games, Shabanie Mine coach John Phiri said it was going to be a difficult assignment.
“How Mine have not won a match so far, so they will be out in full force to win. It will be a tricky tie and very difficult. However, we are preparing for the match and the players are psyched up.
“The good thing is that How Mine does not have many fans who can disrupt our players. We are hoping that our fans will travel to Bulawayo and support us,” he said.
Phiri added that morale was high in his camp.
“The players are very eager to win. They are putting 100% effort at training. I am going to have a selection headache because all the players are putting maximum effort. We have no injury worries although Louis Matawu and Daniel Chakupe are doubtful,” he said.
