FORMER Southern Region Division One League sides Bantu Rovers and How Mine renew their rivalry at the weekend when the two teams clash in a potentially exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.
THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The two teams last met in 2012 when they were both in Division One with How Mine winning both clashes 1-0.
The Metallon Gold-sponsored outfit eventually won the sole ticket to the top flight.
Both teams lost their opening matches 1-0 at the weekend with Bantu Rovers falling to Black Rhinos and How Mine losing to Dynamos.
Only three players from the How Mine team that won the Division One championship remain and these are Donald Chiringa, Nelson Tachi and goalkeeper Nonjabulo Notice Dube.
Isheunesu Chaka, who was one of the coaches then, is in the current How Mine set-up assisting head coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube. Ncube said Saturday’s match will be a tricky tie.
“It is a tricky game for us. They know how we play and we do not know how they play. It is a local derby and anything can happen,” he said.
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Ncube said his side have a new line-up from the 2012 team which would mean a different ball game altogether.
“Donald Chiringa, Nelson Tachi and Nonjabulo Dube are the only players left from the previous team. I was not there as well and it’s a different personnel altogether. I do not know what Mokse (Methembe Ndlovu) is thinking or how he will take it,” he said.
Ndlovu has not been coaching since 2012. He said pressure was on him to produce results.
“Pressure is on me to win this time. The last time I coached in the PSL we lost our last match and now I have returned and we lost our first match, so the pressure is on me to start improving and getting the results. I am one of the shareholders at the club now and I also have to protect my job. I have to report to the board. It is not the same as last time. It is my responsibility to produce results and I also want to protect my job,” he said.
Ndlovu said the match would be tough as there were new players in the How Mine side.
“It is a new group altogether. Last weekend they played a new goalkeeper. We also know that we are going into the match as underdogs, but we are not worried about them, we are worried about our side,” he said.
The former Highlanders gaffer said his charges had to get used to play in the country’s top league.
“How Mine are now experienced in the Premier League and we are new. Our players just have to get used to play at this level,” Ndlovu said.
Bantu Rovers, who lost 0-1 to Black Rhinos last Saturday.
