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Philani “Beefy” Ncube

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
GOLD miners How Mine FC can shoot to the top of the Premiership standings if they beat Buffaloes at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare this afternoon.The two teams are the only clubs involved in a midweek game because their match will be screened on pay-per-view television station SuperSport which has set a target of broadcasting more than 53 league matches this season.

After screening the Mutare game, the SuperSport crew will travel to Harare to cover Saturday’s ZPC Kariba-Chapungu encounter followed by the Caps United match against Shabanie Mine on Sunday. They will round up their assignments with the Harare City-Bantu Rovers tie on Monday.

With table toppers Highlanders and second placed Hwange playing their respective games on Sunday, How Mine, who are on position four with 18 points from 10 matches, can end the day a point above Bosso if they collect maximum points at Sakubva Stadium.

The gold miners last tasted defeat in April, going down 1-3 to Bantu Rovers and after that they have won five out of their eight outings, drawing thrice.

How Mine’s coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube is wary of Luke Masomere’s Buffaloes whose last victory was exactly a month ago when they edged FC Platinum in Mutare 1-0. In their last home game, Buffaloes were walloped 3-1 by former champions Highlanders.

“This is a tough game for us in the sense that Buffaloes are wounded having gone for three consecutive games without picking a point. Obviously they will want to utilise on home advantage but these days in football there is nothing like home advantage anymore.

“We respect Buffaloes who have a seasoned coach in Masomere but we will not have respect for them on the field of play as we are going there with a winning attitude.

“Everyone is raring to go and hopefully we will be able to come back with three points,” said Ncube.

How Mine will pin their hopes on goal scoring machine Kuda Musharu who has banged eight of their 15 goals in the first third of the season as well as Wonder Sithole to lead their attack with veteran Menard Mupera expected to pull the strings in midfield.

Edmore “Digo” Muzanenhamo, Xolisani Moyo, Thembani Masuku, Timothy January and Heritein Masuku are also in contention for starting places in midfield with Gilbert Banda, Nyasha Mukumbi, Brighton Dube and Morris Kadzola marshalling the defence.

Buffaloes also have veterans in their squad in the form of striker Jacob Muzvokomba, Prosper Matizanadzo, Tafadzwa Mombeshora, Philip Chandisaita and Frank Bushiri.

“In football you don’t win always and it’s unfortunate that we are going through a bad spell but we hope it will end soon.

“We are looking forward to the game against How Mine who are a good side and we hope to do the talking on the field of play,” said Masomere.

Fixtures

Today: Buffaloes v How Mine (Sakubva, 3PM SS9)

Saturday: ZPC Kariba v Chapungu (Gwanzura, 3PM SS9), FC Platinum v Black Rhinos (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Chiredzi FC (Luveve)

Sunday: Caps United v Shabanie Mine (National Sports Stadium, 3PM SS), Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), Triangle United v Highlanders (Gibbo)

Monday: Harare City v Bantu Rovers (Rufaro, 3PM SS9)