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Lovemore Dube and Paul Mundandi
SHABANIE Mine coach John Phiri has warned Highlanders that their dominance over them is now history ahead of their crucial Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.But Premiership action in the city starts this afternoon when two wounded buffaloes, Bantu Rovers and How Mine take to Luveve Stadium.

Both teams started on the losing side with Rovers being edged 1-0 by visiting Black Rhinos at the same venue while 24 hours later an impressive display by How Mine was not enough to earn them a draw or a win, falling to a late own-goal by Brighton Dube.

But the weekend’s big match will pit Highlanders and visiting Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow. Since 2001, the Zvishavane side has never won a league or cup match against Highlanders in Bulawayo.

“We respect Highlanders because they are a very big institution. They have achieved a lot, much more than Shabanie but their dominance must come to an end one day.

“In 1994 we beat Bosso when I was a player with Mhangura and on Sunday I am meeting them with another mine team and it is my wish and hope that we will come out of Barbourfields with a positive result,” said Phiri.

Shabanie brewed a shocker last Sunday when they beat Triangle 3-1 at Maglas. The result proved a number of critics wrong as they had been written off after losing 22 players in the off-season.  That did not deter Phiri from taking up the job and going into the market to give underrated players a chance to prove their stock.

Phiri is assisted by another former Shabanie Mine player Arnold Jani. The former national team fringe player said his team is in the league to compete for honours.  Fans in the town have begun trickling to back the side.

But Shabanie’s pedigree will be tested by Bosso who were held by Chapungu last week.

The Bulawayo team has an array of stars who include South Africa-bound Kudakwashe Mahachi who will be joining Mamelodi Sundowns in June. He is not the only player in stand-in coach Mark Mathe’s arsenal though. There is Bruce Kangwa, Milton Ncube, Peter Moyo, Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu and goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya to look up to as well.

Mathe is standing in for Kelvin Kaindu who left for Zambia enroute to the UK where he is attending a Uefa B licence course yesterday.
Bosso are, however, worried about the injury of big striker Cleopas Dube whose introduction against Chapungu seemed to give the club some shape in attack.

Mathe challenged his players to show character tomorrow and he would be happy for a third win in Kaindu’s absence. The Bosso boss said they would accord Shabanie due respect as the league has no small teams anymore.

“There are no longer small teams in the league. Our players should show a positive approach and they must not be complacent. Fans should come out in their numbers and be the 12th man. We have already prepared well for the match and our concern is the injury of Cleopas Dube.”

Mathe appealed to the media and fans not to exert pressure on star player Mahachi. He said he was in touch with Kaindu on the technical side of things ahead of tomorrow’s clash.

“We are used to this.  We know he is going to school and we are in constant touch as regards to the team. Kuda is a young player and he has been in the limelight. We need patience on the player and he is going to play and we urge everyone to be behind him,” said Mathe.

In 2006 the miners emerged victors at Maglas when they beat Methembe Ndlovu’s team 4-1. In 2010, Phiri guided Shabanie to a 1-0 victory in Zvishavane when they were under Egyptian coach Mohamed Fathi.

Shabanie have in their books former Motor Action midfielder Louis Matawu, Carlos Mesi, Godknows Murwira, Allan Tavariswa, Zvenyika Makonese, Edmore Tsoro, Douglas  Sibanda on loan from Highlanders, Zvikomborero Bizeki, Talbott Mthombeni, Nelson Merson and veteran goalkeeper Victor Twaliki.

In the first of the Bulawayo derbies Philani Ncube’s match-fit stars could be without Kuda Musharu who is on trial in South Africa. He however, has enough depth and healthy competition for places in his squad with Benjamin Marere set to start alongside Menard Mupera, Xolani Moyo, Thembani Masuku and the reliable Gilbert Banda and Nyasha Mukumbi in defence.

Nqobizitha Masuku and Pride Zireni are expected to pull the strings in midfield for Bantu Rovers.

In Zvishavane it will be a battle of the miners when Hwange visit FC Platinum, a match set to be televised this afternoon. Hwange started at a blistering pace beating Buffaloes 5-1 at home while Lloyd Mutasa earned a 1-1 draw against Chiredzi last weekend.

Chicken Inn are away to Buffaloes in Mutare  tomorrow.

Perennial league title favourites Dynamos will entertain ZPC Kariba who held Caps United to a 1-1 draw last weekend. The match is set for the National Sports  Stadium tomorrow. But an explosive Harare derby  could ensue when Caps United and Harare City battle at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon in a match with so much at stake.

Gweru side Chapungu will clash with Black Rhinos at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma.

The Lowveld derby completes the exciting weekend fixtures with Moses Chunga’s Chiredzi and Triangle’s Biggie Zuze eager to claim the scalp of the other. The two coaches were great partners for a good Dynamos side of the late 1980s.

Derbies between the two in Division One are said to have attracted bumper crowds of up to 6,000 people.

Fixtures

Today: How Mine v Bantu Rovers (Luveve), FC Platinum v Hwange (Mandava), Harare City v Caps United (Rufaro)

Tomorrow: Highlanders v Shabanie (Barbourfields Stadium), Triangle v Chiredzi (Gibbo), Black Rhinos v Chapungu (Rimuka), Buffaloes v Chicken Inn (Sakubva), Dynamos v ZPC Kariba (National Sports Stadium).