How Mine beef up for Bosso Philani “Beefy” Ncube
Philani “Beefy” Ncube

Philani “Beefy” Ncube

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HOW Mine FC have bolstered their squad ahead of their epic Premiership clash with Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Chikurupati, who were beaten 1-2 by Highlanders in the first leg, are hoping to turn the tables on Bosso.The gold miners, who have been exhibiting some brilliant football only to come short in burying the scoring opportunities that they would have created, have roped in striker Caleb Masocha and gangly Mandla Sibanda to beef up their attacking options and get their title campaign back on track.

Masocha, a former Shabanie Mine forward, spent the first half of the season at ZPC Kariba and his move to the miners will mean that coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube has more firepower to complement leading striker Kuda Musharu who has hit a bad patch.

Sibanda has been snapped up from Botswana’s Ecco City and should be a direct replacement on the right wing for Benjamin Marere who has since rejoined FC Platinum.

Despite having new signings, the How Mine coach remains cautious over Highlanders.

“Should their (Mandla and Masocha) licences be here on time for the game they might play as they have been training with the team showing some hunger for goal, something that we have been lacking of late. We do play well but the conversion rate is poor. We have to get our act together and we spoke as a team to reignite the fire and passion and our season’s targets which we believe are still attainable only if we get our act together.

“Obviously Sunday’s game against Highlanders will be tough because they dropped points in their last encounter and they wouldn’t want to repeat that but we are geared up for the game. We can’t afford to lose more points because we want to be within reach of title chasers,” said Ncube.

While the miners might unleash their mid-season signings on Sunday, it remains to be seen whether Highlanders’ new acquisitions Tapiwa Dephistara, King Nadolo and ex-Tripple B defender Webster Chingozha will be paraded before the home fans at Emagumeni.
How Mine who last registered a victory in Week 11 when they beat Buffaloes 2-1 in Mutare, getting their goals from Marere and Edmore “Digo” Muzanenhamo followed by a goalless draw at home against FC Platinum, will be out to end their four-match losing streak to Triangle (away), Highlanders and back-to-back defeats to Black Rhinos.

Ncube believes they will rediscover their form and has thrown his weight behind Musharu who has eight league goals, two behind the Premiership leading scorer Charles Sibanda of Highlanders and has gone for seven games without finding the back of the net. Musharu’s last goal was during How Mine’s 2-2 draw with ZPC Kariba in Harare on May 24.

“Kuda is a brilliant player and hitting a bad spell is part of the game. Personally I think he (Musharu) has done well with his great runs, keeping defenders on their feet and even try to create opportunities for others. In short, he is a brilliant team player and will get it right sooner than later. All he has to do is believe in himself,” said Ncube.

Looking at How Mine’s squad, they have a number of veteran players who are capable of turning around the fortunes of the club should they summon their experience. Captain Gilbert Banda, George Magariro, Nyasha Mukumbi, Brighton Dube, Morris Kadzola, Musharu and goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura are some of their key players.

Having dominated play against Highlanders, How Mine would want to repeat the first leg form but this time around they have to do without injured veteran midfielder Menard Mupera and Xolisani “Scara” Moyo who is on suspension while Muzanenhamo is a doubtful starter after picking a knock against Black Rhinos.

Meanwhile, How Mine have loaned out Donald Chiringa and Eddie Nkulungo to Plumtree Chiefs with defender Terrence Majo sent to Shabanie Mine to get game time. Hebert Dick, Marvel Samaneka and Marere are some of the players that have been released by the gold miners.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Harare City v Chiredzi (Rufaro, SuperSport 3PM)

Saturday: ZPC Kariba v Hwange (Gwanzura, SuperSport 3PM), FC Platinum v Chapungu (Mandava)

Sunday: Highlanders v How Mine (Barbourfields), Buffaloes v Shabanie Mine (Sakubva), Caps United v Chicken Inn (National Sports Stadium, SuperSport 3PM), Black Rhinos v Dynamos (Rimuka), Triangle v Bantu Rovers (Gibbo)

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