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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
AN exhilarating Premiership football match is on the cards at Luveve Stadium this afternoon when How Mine FC play host to Caps United.It’s more of a revenge mission for the Harare club who were knocked out of the mega-rich Mbada Diamonds Cup by How Mine last year.
Just a flashback: the last time the two teams met was in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final at the National Sports Stadium in November last year with How Mine winning that encounter after a penalty shootout after the match had ended 2-2 after regulation time.
There was drama at the 60,000 seater stadium as Caps United marshals broke into How Mine’s dressing room while the first half was underway and found burning candles which were surrounding bottles with some liquid stuff. The set up of the candles and the bottles was in typical football formation.
Not even that bizarre episode could save Caps United from being knocked out of the country’s richest soccer tournament. The gold miners went on to lose 0-3 to Highlanders in the final.
Then, Premiership debutantes How Mine produced a class act avoiding an off the field tackle by Caps United and today they face off at Luveve Stadium with many Caps United hopefuls still bitter after the miners taught them a hard lesson on How to Mine the diamonds last season.
It’s all to play for this afternoon for both teams and a test of character for coaches Philani “Beefy” Ncube of How Mine and his Caps United counterpart Taurai Mangwiro.
Caps United has won two of their last four matches which they played at home and lost two on the road to FC Platinum (1-2) and Highlanders (0-4).
On the other hand, Ncube’s side, who started the season on a bad foot losing their opening two games, has won their last four matches. One of their four wins was a 2-1 victory they registered at Chishamiso Stadium over Chiredzi FC.
“We cannot talk about history now but obviously we can use history to prepare for the future. We won the last game because we were tactically superior over them and the players gave their best. Remember that was in the cup and we have never picked a point against Caps United in the league and it will be great if we break that duck now,” Ncube said.
How Mine’s starting line up is almost predictable with veteran goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura getting the nod ahead of young and promising Donovan Bernard while Gilbert Banda could partner ex-Caps United defender Nyasha Mukumbi in the heart of defence.
The gold miners are hoping that Morris Kadzola passes a late fitness test so that he starts on the right side of defence while Brighton Dube takes to the leftback.
Captain George Magariro plays just ahead of the central defence helping dynamic Menard Mupera, Edmore “Digo” Muzanenhamo, Thembani Masuku and Timothy January in the midfield while Kuda Musharu leads upfront. Some of the players also in contention for starting places in midfield are Heritein Masuku, Benjamin Marere, Xolisani Moyo, Wonder Sithole, James Chitereki and Godfrey Nguwodzawo.
Caps United are also upbeat ahead of today’s encounter following their 1-0 win over Dynamos in the Commander Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Charities semi-final on Sunday.
The Green Machine, whose last trip to Bulawayo saw them embarrassed with a 4-0 drubbing by Bosso, will bank on skipper Tapiwa Khumbuyani, national team defender Hardlife Zvirekwi, striker Dominic Chungwa and the Malawian duo of Ishmael Thindwa and Gerald Phiri.
Fixtures
Today: How Mine v Caps United (Luveve); Triangle United v Buffaloes (Gibbo); Chapungu v Hwange (Ascot); Dynamos v FC Platinum (National Sports Stadium); Black Rhinos v ZPC Kariba (Rimuka)
Tomorrow: Shabanie Mine v Chiredzi (Maglas, 1PM Supersport); Highlanders v Harare City (Barbourfields)
derick.khumalo