CAPS united are wary of How Mine as they host the Bulawayo giant killers in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday — the first time they will be playing before their home crowd in this tournament. TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The Green Machine has been playing away from home since the start of this year’s competition and have been doing well in the prestigious tournament far away from the madding crowd.
Last season Dynamos booted the former cup kings out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals at Barbourfields Stadium.
Goals from Denver Mukamba, Simba Sithole and Rodreck Mutuma ensured Dynamos’ passage to the final of the richest knockout tournament in the country at the expense of the Green Machine.
This season Makepekepe opened the Mbada Diamonds Cup edition with a date against Motor Action at Sakubva in Mutare winning 7-6 after a penalty shoot-out before travelling to Gweru’s Ascot Stadium for a quarter-final clash against Chicken Inn whom they edged 2-1 to advance to the last four of the tournament.
Now they will meet How Mine before their home crowd.
Caps United goalkeeper’s coach Brenna Msiska admitted they had been playing well away from home in this competition.
“We have been playing well away from home in this tournament, but now we will be playing at home for the first time. We will see how it goes,” he said.
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How Mine have perfected the art of rising to the occasion when pitted against the so-called big teams. Dynamos and Highlanders will be the first to testify having been both shocked in the league and Mbada Diamonds Cup tournament this season.
This is an impressive record for a team that is in its maiden season in the top-flight league, but Msiska remained confident of success. They have already surpassed expectations as all they needed to do was to avoid being knocked out in the first round.
How Mine are also coming from a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Hwange and coach Philani Ncube was confident of his charges. “We are going to Harare to compete,” Ncube said.
