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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HOW Mine FC put a foot in the second round of the Orange Caf Confederation Cup after beating Seychelles’ St Michel 5-1 in Bulawayo on Saturday. They are bracing for tougher opposition after clearing the Indian-Ocean islanders hurdle. The gold miners are expected to jet out on Thursday for Saturday’s return leg at Victoria island’s Stade Linite in Seychelles.
Should they proceed to the next round they will clash with Bayelsa United of Nigeria and Congo’s Kondzo FC.
Bayelsa United held Kondzo to a goalless draw in Congo.
How Mine tore St Michel apart with Kuda Musharu taking his Orange Caf Confederation Cup goals’ tally to five in three matches after scoring a brace with Menard Mupera, Thembani Masuku and Morris Kadzola getting their names on the score sheet.
The visitors got their consolation from Jocelyn Fenosoa who converted from the penalty spot after Nyasha Mukumbi had brought down a St Michel striker in the box.
In an interview yesterday, How Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube was full of praise for his charges and said they have to keep their heads up as they are venturing into a more competitive stage.
“Obviously I am happy with the way we are scoring goals but we must not be carried away as we are about to enter into the more difficult stage of the competition.
“As much as we have a healthy lead, we still have to go to Seychelles and meet those guys at their home because we need to progress to the next round with the guys high in confidence from a victory.
“We might face a team from Nigeria or Congo in the next stage and those countries are competitive and are better ranked than Zimbabwe. Nigeria is ranked eighth in Africa while Congo is 19. So we must prepare ourselves for tougher opponents in the next stage,” said Ncube.
The How Mine gaffer says they will go for the kill in Seychelles and will not defend.
“Our philosophy in this competition is simple, do well at home and when we go away try as much as we can to score more than our opponents. Definitely we will not sit back because inviting our opponents to have a go at us is risky as we might crack. So, we will attack from the first whistle.
“We also have to try and avoid conceding goals as well as fouls in dangerous areas.”
Gilbert Banda and Brighton Dube who missed the preliminary round against Chuoni FC of Zanzibar because they did not have passports returned to action for How Mine on Saturday with the former getting the captain’s armband.
An elated Banda shared his coach’s sentiments and said their target was reaching the group stage.
“We are getting better with every game and what we need now is to make sure that we work on our short comings and convert all the scoring chances that we create. Even as we proceed to the next stage, what we have to do is do like we have done now, use home advantage to the best of our abilities because I have seen that in Africa when you don’t win convincingly at home, it is bound to be difficult away.
“The good thing is that we have a squad of players hungry for success and competition at training makes everyone desire to be part of the match day team which is healthy,” Banda said.
The dreadlocked defender is not new in Caf clubs’ competition having participated at such tournaments with Highlanders and FC Platinum.
Former national team players Ephraim Mazarura and Herbert Dick, Wonder Sithole, Musharu, Dube and Mupera are some of the players expected to use their experience to lead How Mine to glory.
Online Reporter