adminLovemore Dube in MAHE ISLAND, Seychelles
HOW Mine arrived here last night for the second leg of their Orange Caf Confederation Cup tie against St Michel scheduled for tomorrow. The Bulawayo side, taking part in African competitions for the first time, left Harare yesterday morning via Johannesburg where they waited for three hours at the Air Seychelles desk at OR Tambo International Airport.
Staff manning the desk said the bookings of the Zimbabweans, and the South African referees who are handling the match, were not showing on their computers. Having arrived at 8.30am they were only cleared after three hours and were to suffer another delay as the plane took off an hour later.
They eventually arrived at 9pm Seychelles time, which is two hours ahead of Zimbabwe. How Mine were met by hostile humid conditions and drenching rain by officials of St Michel and the Seychelles Football Federation who whisked them to the Berjaya Mahe Hotel.
Head of delegation Tawengwa Hara was happy with the treatment and choice of hotel where Highlanders stayed in 2000.
Coach Philani Ncube said his boys were upbeat about tomorrow’s task.
He said they would train twice today.
“We will have a morning session to last about an hour and we will then train at the Stade Linite in the afternoon for 90 minutes at the ideal starting time for the match.” How Mine boast a 5-1 first leg lead and are poised to progress to the next stage.
Mlondolozi Nkomo, the club chairman who is also travelling with the team, was happy with the reception.
Online Reporter