HOW Mine head coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube says his side will need to play at least three friendly matches before taking on Zanzibar’s Chuoni FC in the first leg preliminary round of the Confederation Cup to be played at Barbourfields Stadium on February 8.
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Ncube said this after a training session yesterday morning at White City Stadium. The country’s representatives in the continental competition have just under three weeks to organise those friendly matches before meeting the Zanzibar side.
“We are still going ahead with our preparations for the game against Chuoni, but we have not made replacements for players that we registered and did not turn up. We are actually going to trim the squad to 25 players. We need to play two or three friendly matches before that game and it is very necessary. It doesn’t matter whether we play international or local friendlies, but we definitely need to play two or three matches before Chuoni,” Ncube said.
How Mine are yet to confirm whether they will be travelling to Botswana where they have been invited for a friendly match by Tafic. Former Monomotapa skipper Kudakwashe Musharu, who was said to be attending the burial of his grandmother last week, started training with the club on Monday.
The other players who have been registered for the Caf Confederation Cup, who have been training with How Mine include Under-20 Young Warriors and Aces Academy goalkeeper Donovan Benard, Marvel Samaneka and Wonder Sithole while Nicholas Alifandika and Courage Denias had second thoughts about joining the gold miners.
Benjamin Marere started training with the club last week together with former Bosso players Heritein Masuku and Graham Ncube, the latter having joined Division One side Bantu Rovers last year.
Thabani Moyo, who had joined Division One side Black Boots, has also been training with the club.
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The Metallon Gold-sponsored How Mine, who will be making their maiden appearance in the African Safari after reaching the final of the Mbada Diamonds Cup last year, have kept faith in skipper Hebert Dick and his deputy Gilbert Banda while also retaining goalkeepers Ephraim Mazarura and Nonjabulo Dube.
Midfielder Menard Mupera, Brighton Dube, Nyasha Mukumbi, Terrence Majo, Nelson Tachi, Donald Chirinda, Timothy January, Xolisani Moyo, Thembani “Smaller” Masuku, Warren Dube and Eddie Nkulungo were retained.
They await the return of striker Simba Sithole with the Warriors for the African Nations Championship finals .
Meanwhile, former midfielder Thandazani “Malele” Ndlovu, who was shown the door by the gold miners is rumoured to have set his feet in Botswana, where he has signed for Motlakase Power Dynamos.
