admin
Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HOW Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube is banking on the support of Dynamos and Caps United fans to cheer his side to victory over Highlanders in the Mbada Diamonds Cup final at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow. The two local rivals meet in a potentially explosive cup final that carries a staggering $130 000 winners purse while the losing side will pocket a cool $90 000, much higher than what winners of the Castle Lager Premiership received.
The outspoken Ncube said DeMbare and Kepekepe fans who usually occupy the Mpilo End at Barbourfields Stadium even when their teams are not playing, would be crucial to his side’s quest for a first major piece of silverware. “If you cannot beat them (Highlanders fans) you simply join them, this is why I am banking on Caps United and Dynamos supporters to give us that extra push,” said Ncube during a press conference at a city hotel yesterday.
How Mine beat both Caps United and Dynamos on their way to the final.
His counterpart Kelvin Kaindu, under immense pressure to end the season with at least a piece of silverware after failing to end Dynamos’ three-year monopoly of the league title, said fans would be crucial to his team’s chances.
“It’s not going to be easy playing against How Mine, it’s a derby remember and we call on the fans to come in their numbers and cheer the boys on,” said Kaindu.
The Zambian will be appearing in his third cup final this year after the Bob 89 Super Cup and the Independence Cup finals which he lost to Dynamos at the beginning of the year.
Kaindu sounded confident of doing well and said he was certain of continuing with their rich vein of scoring form in the tournament.
Highlanders scored an incredible eight goals in the three matches played leading to the final, beating Triangle 3-2 at Barbourfields Stadium, scoring three goals without reply past Buffaloes at Mucheke Stadium before their 2-2 draw after regulation time against Harare City at Mandava Stadium.
How Mine recorded identical 1-0 wins over Black Rhinos and Dynamos before drawing 2-2 with Caps United in the semi-final after regulation time. It is their giant killing act that makes them a dangerous lot for Kaindu, what with a side that managed to beat holders Dynamos, a team that had not lost in the tournament since its inception three years ago.
“Our scoring rate in this tournament has been good and I don’t see us failing to score on Saturday (tomorrow),” said Kaindu.
Ncube said while history favours them against Highlanders this year, the cup final was a different ball game altogether especially with the majority of his players being former Bosso players.
“We have beaten Highlanders twice already this year but this is a cup final, it’s not going to be easy. We prepared well though but this match is about the players. I can safely say I am only contributing 30 percent with the other 70 percent contribution coming from the players themselves,” said Ncube, a former Coach of the Year while at the now defunct Njube Sundowns.
His captain Herbert Dick concurred with his coach that former Highlanders players at How Mine might make the difference as some of them still had a point to prove while age was also not on their side.
“I think former Highlanders players, myself included, will make something happen in this final,” said Dick.Innocent Mapuranga, the Highlanders skipper, said the dust at their trophy cabinet was pushing them on.
“It’s been a while since we won something tangible and this is the last chance. There is a lot at stake but we are all looking forward to a good showing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Premier Soccer League has thanked the sponsors, especially the organising committee chairman Tafadzwa Chiremba, for the professional manner in which they have handled the tournament so far.
“We want to express our gratitude to the sponsors, yes, here and there you face difficulties but thanks to the leadership skills of the chairman of the committee, Chiremba, we were able to come up with tangible solutions hence we have the final,” said PSL board member responsible for competitions, Tawengwa Hara.
Online Reporter