adminThe Chipangano coach stoked the flames ahead of their Castle Lager Premiership match by teasing the Green Machine.
The teams have played interesting duels in the past with Hwange dominating the stage in the last four years until CAPS United swayed the scales in their favour with a 2-0 win last month.
Prior to that the coal-miners had not lost a match to the Green Machine since July 12, 2009 when they succumbed to Tendai Nyamadzawo’s solitary strike at the Colliery.
Dube yesterday said the coalminers will be out to prop up their faltering campaign when they host the Green Machine at the Colliery on Sunday.
“CAPS United are no longer that big in terms of how they play. They are big in name and they may still have a huge fan base but they are no longer that big club that we used to know.
“I understand they are going through the same process of rebuilding that we are involved in here after losing a number of players in the last two seasons.
“So we are not losing sleep over this match. As Hwange we are just taking it like any other game that we have played this season and we are looking forward to a good game,” said Dube.
Hwange will be without their defenders Munyaradzi Mungadze and Eric Chipeta who are suspended this week for accumulating three yellow cards each in their previous assignments.
They are also monitoring four key players – David Boriwondo, Farai Vimisayi, Tafara Chese and Isaac Masame – who were carrying knocks.
Hwange are coming from a 1-2 loss to Harare City but that was an away match.
At the Colliery, they hit four past City in a 4-1 mauling.
“We are not supposed to be where we are on the log table and we have been telling our players that we need to pull up our socks,” said Dube.
“Home advantage these days doesn’t work. Any team that plays good football on the day will have better chances to win.”
While Hwange are still looking to raise their game, Makepekepe have already been in steady recovery this season under Taurai Mangwiro.
They are also likely to rest Leonard Fiyado who lost his father during the week. Makepekepe yesterday cancelled their training session to attend the burial of Fiyado’s father.
Team manager Josphat Rwafa said they will have to keep focused.
“It’s unfortunate that one of our players lost his father and we considered it our loss collectively. We are a united family as we had everyone, the players, the management and the supporters joining hands during this sad period.
“We did our best as a club to assist at the funeral. We are together as a family whether in times of bereavement or in happiness,” said Rwafa.
Former champions Motor Action will have mountains to climb as they seek an unlikely victory to redeem themselves away at FC Platinum tomorrow.
Coach Joey Antipas admits it has become difficult to motivate the players as the club has been hit hard by financial challenges.
The Mighty Bulls’ defence will be missing a key member again this week as centreback Godfrey Moyo has been suspended after accumulating three yellow cards in previous matches.
They will welcome Charles Mutero and Blessing Sande who were not available for last week’s game which they lost 2-0 to Monomotapa.
Motor Action players have been playing on empty stomachs for most of the season and the management will have to dig deep to find solutions to their woes.
“We are in a difficult scenario at the moment but we will see how things go when we go to FC Platinum.
“Obviously, they are the big favourites as they are playing at home. We are just hoping to assemble a strong team under the circumstances and then see what happens,” said Antipas.
Fixtures
Tomorrow
Tripple B v Black Rhinos (Dulibadzimu), FC Platinum v Motor Action (Mandava), Monomotapa v Harare City FC (Rufaro)
Sunday
Shabanie Mine v Black Mambas (Maglas), Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Triangle v How Mine (Gibbo), Dynamos v Buffaloes (Rufaro), Hwange v CAPS United (Colliery)
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