LEAGUE champions Dynamos will invade Bulawayo this afternoon as they start their title defence against a determined How Mine in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie expected to produce fireworks at Barbourfields Stadium.
Fortune Mbele Sports Reporter
Despite winning the championship three times in a row, Dynamos head coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s away record was not good last season and he is probably out to avenge the defeat by How Mine at Luveve Stadium last July.
However, Pasuwa would be wary of How Mine this time around again — a team that stunned DeMbare 1-0 at Luveve and went on to bundle them out of the country’s richest football tournament, the Mbada Diamonds Cup in Harare in October.
“As usual as the champions, we will treat each game as it comes, but mind you there are no small teams in the league. All the teams have been on the market and How Mine have a strong side,” Pasuwa said.
Pasuwa’s main worry has been injuries in his camp, but yesterday, the three-time league championship winning gaffer said he was only worried about Masimba Mambare, who sustained an injury in the Independence Trophy semi-final match against Harare City last Sunday.
“In terms of casualties, Masimba (Mambare) limped out of the match on Sunday and he is the only casualty. As for the others who would be injured by the end of the day (Friday), I am sure we will have a clean bill of health. Our fans should come and see as we start to defend our title.
We believe in winning. We are not losers,” Pasuwa said.
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This means that Simba Sithole, Clive Kawinga, Tawanda Muparati and Tafadzwa Rusike could be part of the team that takes on How Mine, with Ronald Chitiyo and Clive Sekete while Partson Jaure is out serving suspension.
Goalkeeper George Chigova is an inspiration at Dynamos.
How Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube — fresh from a Caf Confederation Cup exit after losing to Nigeria’s Bayelsa United FC — said he has much respect for the league champions and would not be reading much into last year’s results.
“It’s the first game of the season and the first cut is the deepest.
“It is a different year and we have to do everything with a different approach. They (Dynamos) are the defending champions and that puts them on a better level than us. Last year is history and we now concentrate on this game, Morale is high in camp and we are going to give it our best,” Ncube said.
Warren Dube is still out with a knee injury aggravated at training on Wednesday. So is Timothy January.
How Mine have one of the strongest squads in the league this year that boasts Kudakwashe Musharu, Thembani “Smaller” Masuku, Menard Mupera, Emmanuel Mandiranga and Edmore Muzanenhamo.
Today’s match will be beamed on SuperSport 9.
Fixtures Today: Caps United v ZPC Kariba (Gwanzura); Hwange v Buffaloes (Colliery), How Mine v Dynamos (Barbourfields), Shabanie Mine v Triangle United (Maglas)
