Passport dilemma: How Mine stars frozen out

Sport
HOW Mine vice-captain Gilbert Banda and right-back Brighton Dube will not be travelling to Zanzibar because they do not have passports.

HOW Mine vice-captain Gilbert Banda and right-back Brighton Dube will not be travelling to Zanzibar for their second leg preliminary round tie of the Caf Confederation Cup against Chuoni FC at the weekend because they do not have passports.

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The gold miners are expected to leave for the island off the coast of Tanzania tomorrow for the match.

The two were not part of the new-look How Mine team that drubbed Chuoni 4-0 at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday with head coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube confirming after the match that the two had no travel documents.

“Gilbert and Brighton have no passports. They are senior players, but they don’t have passports,” Ncube said after he was quizzed on the exclusion of Banda in the victorious team.

Banda and skipper Hebert Dick were conspicuous by their absence from the team, with the defence being marshalled by George Magariro and Nyasha Mukumbi in the team that also had new signings Morris Kadzola, Edmore Muzanenhamo and Kudakwashe Musharu in the starting line-up.

How Mine chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo confirmed that they might be leaving tomorrow, but said he would be in a clearer picture after a meeting that was to be held later in the afternoon yesterday.

“We are playing on Saturday and we are likely to be leaving for Zanzibar on Wednesday, but I will have more details on how we are travelling after the meeting,” he said.

James Chitereki and the young former Aces Academy player Emmanuel Mandiranga came in as substitutes during the win. Veteran Dick sat out on the bench while goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura, Terrence Majo, Mukumbi, Timothy January, Thembani Masuku, Warren Dube played while Menard Mupera captained the team on Saturday.

How Mine are expected to defend their four goals or even score more to advance to the next stage of the tournament where they are expected to take on either St. Michel of Seychelles or ASSM Elgeco Plus of Madagascar.

St Michel beat ASSM Elgeco on Sunday at home and they have a slim advantage heading to Madagascar at the weekend.

After beating Chuoni in a water-logged pitch on Saturday, Ncube hinted that he might not change the winning team.

“I think we are moving in the right direction. Although 90% of the pitch was bad, we managed to put our heads together. We missed a number of chances, but missing means that we were attacking. This only happened in the first half. If we managed to score four goals they can do the same, but we are going to throw everything at them,” Ncube said.

A timeous buy by How Mine was the acquisition of the young Mandiranga from Aces Academy as he came in and changed the complexion of the game as the goals were not coming. Mandiranga came in the 40th minute and was the man behind How Mine’s two goals after the home team had only scored a goal in the first 45 minutes.

Chouni are hoping to get their act together and cancel the four goal deficit on their home soil.