THE country’s representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup How Mine FC, will leave for Nigeria tomorrow for the crucial second round second leg tie of the tournament against Bayelsa United FC on Saturday.
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Club chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo confirmed the team’s itinerary yesterday.
“We are flying out to Johannesburg from the Joshua Mqabuko International Airport on Wednesday (tomorrow) aboard Air Zimbabwe and then we will connect to Nigeria on Thursday where we will arrive in Lagos in the evening,” Nkomo said.
He said the gold miners, who are bankrolled by a $110 000 Mbada Diamonds subsidy which has taken them to Zanzibar and the Seychelles in the preliminary and first rounds, had the backing of the team’s sponsors Metallon Gold, but admitted that the journey has been demanding.
“We are working tirelessly and fighting to get to the group stages. It has been taxing, but the owners of the club (Metallon) have been behind us. It has been demanding in terms of resources and logistics, taking into consideration that we have to host our visitors and the following week, its air travel, but it is a learning curve,” Nkomo said.
How Mine carry a slim 2-1 advantage from the first leg played at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday and they have a huge task of scoring goals in Nigeria if they nurse hopes of qualifying to the group stages.
Menard Mupera scored a late penalty in the match that ended in a 1-1 stalemate after Morris Kadzola had equalised in the second half.
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Bayelsa had drawn first blood with troublesome Bernard Okorowanta, who could prove to be a pain for the How Mine defence in Nigeria on Saturday.
The Philani “Beefy” Ncube-coached team played too deep at home with a congested midfield with James Chitereki out of his game and was pulled out for Emmanuel Mandiranga in the 50th minute with Wonder Sithole replacing Edmore Muzanenhamo on the 70th minute.
Kingpin Kuda Musharu was not given a chance and was kept under guard by Bayelsa skipper Junior Saloman.
How Mine will have to get into attack mode from the outset in Nigeria and make sure they score goals to cancel Bayelsa’s away goal scored by Okorowanta in the 46th minute.
The defence of captain Gilbert Banda, Nyasha Mukumbi, Kadzola on the right and outstanding Brighton Dube on the left was impressive, with Kadzola making inroads in attack, that earned them the equaliser and the added time spot-kick.
