We were more experienced than Dynamos: Beefy

Sport
HOW Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube says experience is the reason behind the success of his side after they knocked Dynamos out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup

HOW Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube says experience is the reason behind the success of his side after they knocked Dynamos out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup on Sunday.

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The giant killers, as How Mine are now known, got their solitary goal from Thembani Masuku to secure passage into the semi-finals ensuring that Dynamos do not defend the title they have won twice in a row.

“We knew that Dynamos had an advantage of playing at home, but we just said that they have 11 players and we also have the same number of players, so we were equal.

We were already self-motivated because playing big teams is motivating. We wanted to beat the best.

“I am supposed to feel great after beating Dynamos, but I have done it before. I won the Independence Cup with Njube Sundowns when we beat Dynamos in 2009,” he said.

The Metallon Gold-sponsored side went into Sunday’s match as underdogs as some of their players were deemed “rejects” by their former teams.

“Psychologically, some of the players are affected by the fact that they were rejected by other clubs, but I just tell them of their capabilities and tell them to focus on their game.

We also had to win this match because we wanted to represent the southern region.

“With Hwange and Chicken Inn knocked out of the competition on Saturday the onus was now on us and Highlanders to make sure that we qualified for the semi-finals at all costs for the southern region.

“We do not mind meeting any team in the semi-finals. We just want to enjoy our game and we are not under any pressure at all,” the 2008 coach of the year said.

“There is no substitute for experience. The country does not have a vibrant junior league where we can get players with experience from, some of our players have helped us. We also pay tribute to Mabhena (Philani, former How Mine coach) because he is no longer at How Mine, but his work is now paying dividends,” he said.

Former Chicken Inn defender Hebert Dick, Gilbert Banda and Menard Mupera are some of the veteran players for How Mine-the three having previously played for Highlanders.

Banda and Mupera have also played for FC Platinum. How Mine rose from last Sunday’s 0-3 drubbing at the hands of Black Rhinos in a league match which marked the first loss for Ncube since he took over the reins from Mabhena.

In their maiden season in the Premier Soccer League, How Mine have claimed the scalps of giants Highlanders, Dynamos and Chicken Inn — having beaten Highlanders 1-0 at Barbourfields last month.

When Beefy was Mabhena’s assistant, How Mine stunned Dynamos 1-0 at Luveve in July despite losing 0-3 in Harare.

With some people suggesting that Dynamos were made to play at home so as to give them an advantage to proceed to the next round, How Mine humiliated the Harare side instead.