admin
Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE first Castle Lager Premiership midweek matches are on tomorrow with How Mine FC making the long trip to the Eastern Lowveld where they will take on Chiredzi FC at Chishamiso Stadium. The fixture is one of four that have been slated for tomorrow with the same number of games set to be played on Thursday.
Premiership action has not been a bed of roses for the Moses Chunga-coached Chiredzi who are in their maiden season in the topflight as they are yet to collect maximum points in their opening four matches.
Chiredzi FC is second from the bottom of the 16-team log with just a point salvaged from their 1-1 draw with FC Platinum in their opening match followed by losses to Triangle, Highlanders and Black Rhinos.
It might be in the early stages of the season but every point dropped is vital to any team’s title aspirations or survival in the league.
How Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube is aware of the danger Chiredzi FC pose for his team and is not underrating his opponents.
The goldminers are just a place above Chiredzi FC with four points from four matches and registered their first victory of the season on Friday when they beat Shabanie Mine 2-1.
“That victory against Shabanie Mine is what we wanted to get off the mark and having broken the ice, it is our aim to pick up as many points as we can. Every point is crucial to any team and I believe that through hard work and determination we can pick up points. We know Chiredzi FC have not had the best start just like us and we will not underrate them because they can surprise us. We respect them just like any Premiership team but we are going there to compete for the valuable three points which we wish to bring back home.
“Obviously they will come at us and we have to absorb them and avoid conceding an early goal,” Ncube said.
Some of the players that Chiredzi FC will bank on are goalkeeper Claudious Makore, Malvern Gaki, Munyaradzi Chiwara, Sam Msimbo and Norman Maroto.
On the other hand the miners, who had an early season, have seasoned players like goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura, Menard Mupera, George Magariro, Kuda Musharu, Brighton Dube and Nyasha Mukumbi to lead them against the newcomers.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Chiredzi v How Mine (Chishamiso), Harare City v Buffaloes (Rufaro), Shabanie Mine v Bantu Rovers (Maglas), ZPC Kariba v FC Platinum (Gwanzura)
Thursday: Hwange v Black Rhinos (Colliery), Caps United v Triangle (National Sports Stadium), Chapungu v Dynamos (Ascot), Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields)
Week Six
Saturday: May 3: Bantu Rovers v Chiredzi (Luveve, 1PM SS), How Mine v Hwange (Luveve), FC Platinum v Harare City (Mandava)
Sunday: May 4: Chapungu v Shabanie Mine (Ascot), Black Rhinos v Chicken Inn (Rimuka), Dynamos v Buffaloes (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v Caps United (Barbourfields, 3PM SS), Triangle United v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo)
Online Reporter