adminLovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
ST MICHEL of the Seychelles will be making their third trip to Zimbabwe in 15 years when they travel to the City of Kings to face How Mine in a Caf Confederation Cup first leg of the first round tie next weekend.In 2000 the Indian Ocean island republic was hosted by Highlanders in a Champions League first round clash. They were to return in 2002 to face Shabanie in a Caf Confederation match.
History does not favour them in any way as they have played second fiddle to Zimbabwean clubs. Only once has a team from that country beaten Zimbabwe at any level when their national team beat the Warriors in 3-1 in 2004.
With odds staked against them next weekend they will fly into Bulawayo to offer themselves like the sacrificial lambs for slaughter by a Kuda Musharu led How Mine.
With three goals in two matches in Africa, Musharu is aware that the jinx should not be broken and Zimbabweans will expect another safe passage to the next stage of the tournament.
How Mine who were promoted to the Premiership at the end of the 2012 season, finished in the top eight in the Castle Lager Premiership race. They were runners-up in the Zimbabwe Football Association Cup – the Mbada Diamonds Cup in which they lost 3-0 to a fired up Highlanders.
In terms of achievements How Mine are no where close to the Seychellois club. But in their ranks the Matabeleland South gold miners have a club rich in African experience in Herbert Dick, Gilbert Banda, Nyasha Mukumbi and Ephraim Mazarura.
Drawn from a country with just 90,000 people, probably the population of Nkulumane and Nketa, St Michel will be bringing a team of players some of whom have been to Zimbabwe with the club or senior national team before.
Giant goalkeeper, probably among the top five most capped players in that country’s history with 32, has been here on numerous occasions with the last being in the 2009 Cosafa Senior Challenge. At 40, his reflexes are no loner as trusted but his imposing structure could aid his defence.
The left footed star has a poor dive to his right. Nathan Rose was only 18 when they played Highlanders in 2000 with his brother Danny Rose on the left and other survivors are Danny Anacourra, Jean Barbe and Lorenzo Mathiot.
St Michel’s achievements
Seychelles League (11)
1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
Seychelles Cup (8)
1997, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Seychelles President’s Cup
1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
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