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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
A CONFIDENT How Mine Football Club yesterday flew out of the country for Johannesburg en route to Nigeria for the second leg clash against Bayelsa on Saturday. The gold miners left for the do-or-die encounter without their tried and tested veteran defender Herbert Dick.
“He is not match fit,” said head coach Philani Ncube.
The Mbada Diamonds Cup losing finalists carry a slender 2-1 lead.
A bullish Ncube was however showing no signs of panic although he prayed that there would not be any outside factors that would distract his charges’ attention.
North and West African teams are known for their dirty tactics, especially off the field.
“We are confident of an upset but I am a bit worried by our conversion rate, we need to improve on that then everything else falls into place,” said Ncube who said he was looking forward to adding a star to his CV as a coach by causing a major upset in Nigeria.
Beefy, as the 2009 Coach of the Year is also known, said despite leaving Dick behind, he still has experience in his squad.
“I have Gilbert Banda, Nyasha Mukumbi, Ephraim Mazarura, George Magariro and even Brighton Dube. All these guys have the necessary experience,” said Ncube.
He said for a coach to be counted among the best, he has to accomplish one mission, that of beating the so called best coaches and big clubs.
How Mine are likely to congest their midfield like they did in the first leg with Ncube expected to deploy five midfielders Mupera, Xolisani Moyo, Edmore Muzanenhamo, Thembani Masuku and Wonder Sithole.
Kuda Musharu, with six goals so far in the campaign, could be the lone striker.
The goldminers’ midfielders have a knack of scoring all-important goals and Ncube will look up to them to rise to the challenge.
Uche Ihuarulam and attacking midfielder Bernard Okorowanta who got the consolation goal in Bulawayo are some of the players to watch out for.
How Mine have maintained their winning squad with veteran goalkeeper Mazarura set to start ahead of Nonjabulo Dube.
Banda will partner either Magariro or Mukumbi in central defence while Morris Kadzola, who has proved to be effective every time he ventures into attack with two goals in the tournament, will be hoping to ride on his luck and propel his club to the final round before the group stages.
Brighton is expected to start ahead of Terence Majo at leftback.
Online Reporter