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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HOW Mine FC’s management has expressed concerns about the team’s dip in form that has seen them being counted among some of the worst performing Castle Lager Premier Soccer League sides in the second half of the season. The gold miners, like their neighbours Highlanders, Chapungu and Buffaloes, have collected a five points from their last six matches.

How Mine, whose target is a top four finish, held a review meeting at their mining compound yesterday where the club’s leadership remained hopeful of a change in fortunes.

“We did well in the first 10 games going up to the halfway mark, but we seem to have had some challenges in the second half of the season. To be honest, three defeats, two draws and a single win is a bit worrisome and it’s up to the players and technical team to ensure that we start collecting positive results if we’re to achieve our top four target,” said How mine chairman Alpha Matumbura.

How Mine are sixth on the log table tied on 31 points with Harare City, who are also eyeing a top four finish. Coached by the self-proclaimed doctor of football Luke Masomere, How Mine should brace for tough encounters on the homestretch. Triangle United are fourth with 36 points and the miners are hoping that the Eastern Lowveld side continues to blow hot and cold to give them a chance to close in.

“We’re within our target and at this stage we need to try and collect maximum points and hope that the teams above us lose. Realistically if we slip and the teams close to us pick up points, then there’s a great danger of us further drifting from our intended goal. However, we still trust that our seasoned coach Masomere will soon find a winning formula,” said Matumbura.

Pressure has been mounting on Masomere, whose charges were fourth with 26 points on Week 15 and trailed defending champions Dynamos, who were a point ahead on third place.

DeMbare are now second with 39 points, eight points above How Mine. Matumbura said Masomere still had a year left on his contract adding that they believed injuries adversely affected their campaign. How Mine lost striker Charles Sibanda to injury after he broke his collarbone in a car accident. Limited Chikafa retraced his footsteps to ZPC Kariba and leftback James Chitereki pulled a muscle and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Nyasha Mukumbi has also been in and out due to injuries. However, the gold miners had good replacements in the form of strikers Mgcini Sibanda, Nefitary Ndale, Devon Chafa, Godfrey Nguwodzawo and Gilbert Banda, who surprisingly have spent most of their time on the terraces.

Even their two junior players Stephen Nyambabvu and Arnold Muganyi are yet to taste PSL action despite doing well at training sessions. How Mine’s next three encounters are against Tsholotsho, title contenders FC Platinum and Whawha.