admin
Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
IT is going to be a battle of losers when Bulawayo’s first derby of the season pitting Premiership returnees Bantu “Tshintsha Guluva” Rovers and gold miners How Mine gets underway in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.Both sides will be eager to get back on their feet after falling to identical 0-1 scorelines in their season openers on Saturday and Sunday.
Bantu Rovers lost to Black Rhinos who scored in the first half through Brian Muzondiwa while How Mine were victims of an own goal sucker punch from Brighton Dube who had a blinder of a match despite the unfortunate incident, two minutes before full time.
Methembe Ndlovu of Bantu Rovers and How Mine’s Philani Ncube will need to come up with not only winning strategies but defensive ones as well and aim for maximum points as a further dropped set of points at this early stage will be a low start.
There is need for the two gaffers to first correct what caused their downfall, analyse how and where their opponents took advantage of them in their previous matches and then come up with a scoring strategy. Also the mental strength of the players will be key.
Veteran coach and Caf instructor Gibson Homela said the two coaches should have by now noted their weaknesses and should have been trying to work on those weaknesses and improving on strengths.
“Many people were of the view that How Mine, for instance played well against Dynamos which in a way is correct but I think there were some things which they need to correct quickly. Philani needs to sharpen up his offensive strategies and even his defence. They created chances which were not converted,” said Homela, a former national team player and coach.
He said even the own goal scored by Dube could have been avoided had the defender checked both sides for the enemy.
“He did not check because had he checked, he would have seen that there was no danger and just let the ball trickle outside, his coach needs to work on his confidence as they approach the next game,” said Homela.
He said a good team is one that realises that its success lies in scoring goals.
On how Bantu Rovers should approach their second game, the veteran mentor said the new boys probably needed mental strength more than the technical expertise of their coaches.
“I have realised that most of us coaches have something which we are not able to put our fingers on – the mental fitness of our players. Yes we can apply the technical side of the game but when it comes to physical and psychological aspects, most of us are found wanting,” said Homela.
He added: “The sooner a coach catches up with the two (physical and psychological pressure) than the technical side, the better. I hope the first game for Methembe was an eye-opener for him in terms of how they were able to handle the psychological pressure, he needs to work on that before applying the technical side.”
While the two Bulawayo sides will be looking for their first point, Highlanders will be gunning for their first set of maximum points after failing to collect maximum points in their opening match for the first time in more than 15 years. They face John Phiri’s fired up Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday, knowing fully well that collecting three points will not be negotiable under any circumstances.
Assistant coach Mark Mathe will be in charge of the boys in the absence of head coach Kelvin Kaindu who flies out of the country tomorrow for the United Kingdom for his Uefa B coaching badge.
A cracker of a match will probably be at Mandava Stadium where mining sides FC Platinum and Hwange will clash in a match set to be beamed live at 1300HRS by SuperSport 9 on Saturday.
Lloyd Mutasa’s FC Platinum were held to a 1-1 draw by Moses Chunga’s Chiredzi at Chishamiso Stadium while Hwange ruthlessly clobbered Buffaloes 5-1 at the Colliery Stadium. Nation Dube’s boys are enjoying a very rare moment of superiority after shooting to the top of the log standings while their two players Rodwell Chinyengetere and Evans Rusike are joint leading marksmen with two goals each after round one of the matches.
Chicken Inn will be on the road heading for Sakubva Stadium where they will find a battle wounded Buffaloes waiting for them.
Fixtures:
Saturday: How Mine v Bantu Rovers (Luveve)
FC Platinum v Hwange (Mandava) 1300HRS -Supersport
Harare City v Caps United (Rufaro)
Sunday: Highlanders v Shabanie Mine (Barbourfields)
Buffaloes v Chicken Inn (Sakubva)
Triangle United v Chiredzi (Gibbo) Supersport
Dynamos v ZPC Kariba (NSS)
Black Rhinos v Chapungu (Rimuka)
Online Reporter