How Mine confident ahead of Caps Utd tie Munyaradzi Diya
Munyaradzi Diya

Munyaradzi Diya

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
IN-FORM How Mine goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya is expected to play a key role when his side takes on Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Caps United in a rescheduled fixture in Harare tonight.

The gold miners head to the capital for the evening encounter that kicks off at 7PM at the National Sports Stadium, bubbling with confidence following their 2-1 win over Harare City in their previous Premiership game.

How Mine are seventh on the league table with 28 points from 16 games and can climb into third place if they beat Caps.

The champions go into tonight’s encounter eager to get their title defence back on track after crashing out of the Caf Champions League on July 2 when they lost 1-4 to Algeria’s USM Alger in a decisive group match.

Diya, who has been in superb form, producing a number of saves that have kept his side in the championship matrix, believes they wear the “underdogs” tag into tonight’s game.

“We’re going into tomorrow’s game as the underdogs. It’s a big game for us because we’re facing the champions who have gained lots of experience playing in the Caf Champions League. The fact that we face a side coming from continental football gives us confidence and the zeal to work harder. We’re hoping to get a positive result,” said Diya.

The former Highlanders shot-stopper has kept five clean sheets for How Mine since taking over from Donovan Bernard, who picked up an injury in the 1-0 win over Chicken Inn on May 7.

He has played 10 games for How Mine, starring in five wins, three draws and two defeats.

On his present superb form, Diya said: “I think the performances have been down to team effort. The goalkeepers’ coach Chokri (Tembo Chuma) also challenges me at every training session and his demands apply on match days.”

Besides Diya, How Mine will also be banking on utility player and captain Makundika Sakala, defenders Praise Tonha, Kudzai Chideu and Frank Makarati.

The former national team duo of Milton Ncube and Peter Moyo, striker Kuda Musharu, as well as winger Toto Banda are all expected to play a crucial part tonight as the miners seek to remain on the winning course.

They will, however, be without the injured quartet of goalkeeper Bernard, left-back Brian Mbiriri, central defender Nelson Tachi and utility player Tsepo Ranthokoane.

Kelvin Kaindu, How Mine’s gaffer, said their target is to finish the first half of the season on a high note.

“I think if you look at the table, you will see that we’re just three points behind the leaders and now we’ve been presented with an opportunity to close the gap. We’re not far and have done well to keep up with the leading pack,” said Kaindu.

The odds are against How Mine, who have never beaten Caps in Harare. How Mine, promoted into the Premiership in 2013, have lost three out of their last four trips to Harare, with the September 21, 2014, 0-0 draw being their best away result against the champions.

In their last meeting, Caps needed an injury time goal to pip How Mine 3-2 at the National Sports Stadium.

Caps are hard-pressed for victory as they are third from the bottom with 13 points from nine games.

A win for Caps, who have seven games in hand, will lift them two places up the table into 14th position, tied on 16 points with Yadah FC.

Caps coach Lloyd Chitembwe believes the Harare giants can defend their title as they begin to clear a backlog of eight matches starting with the home assignment against How Mine.

“It’s a very important period for us, important in the sense that we are playing catch up and we have already tasted good things and the boys want to continue.

“I am sure trying to balance the Champions League and the domestic league was becoming a bit difficult for us, but I want to believe this will give us ample time to focus on the league and we believe the league has to be given so much priority and focus on winning it again,” Chitembwe told our Harare Bureau.

Rescheduled Fixture
Today: Caps United v How Mine (National Sports Stadium, 7PM)

Table
P    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts
Black Rhinos    16    9    4    3    21    7    14    31
Ngezi Platinum    17    9    4    4    25    15    10    31
*Dynamos    15    9    3    3    22    12    10    30
Chicken Inn    16    9    2    5    15    7    8    29
FC Platinum    16    7    8    1    14    7    7    29
Highlanders    16    8    4    4    17    13    4    28
How Mine    16    8    4    4    13    11    2    28
ZPC Kariba    17    8    3    6    19    16    3    27
Triangle United    17    5    7    5    15    17    -2    22
Shabanie Mine    17    5    6    6    13    14    -1    21
*Chapungu    16    5    6    5    10    11    -1    21
Harare City    17    4    6    7    10    11    -1    18
Bulawayo City    16    5    3    8    16    20    -4    18
Yadah FC    17    4    4    9    14    22    -8    16
Hwange    16    3    5    8    10    20    -10    14
Caps United    9    3    4    2    14    9    5    13
Bantu Rovers    17    2    3    12    18    37    -19    9
Tsholotsho FC    17    0    6    11    8    25    -17    6

*match abandoned

@ZililoR

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