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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
HOW Mine Football Club, surprise packages in the Orange Caf Confederation Cup, are aware of the pedigree of their opponents in the second round, Bayelsa United, of Nigeria.
Club chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo yesterday said their opponents would not be easy prey.
His team reached the next stage of the tournament after a 6-4 aggregate win over St Michel of the Seychelles. They were given a real scare trailing 3-0 at half time with a lifeless display in the opening 25 minutes of the game in the Indian Ocean island.
Kuda Musharu, a revelation for the side who has scored six goals in four Caf Confederation matches, ensured the team’s qualification with a 57th minute goal. It’s good returns for a man who scored just six last year in the Premiership.
How Mine had beaten the islanders 5-1 in the first leg in Bulawayo.
That made the task harder for the hosts who now needed three more goals to proceed to the next stage.
“We will sit down today with the technical team and hear what their plans are. We will stand guided by them as we want to see that they make adequate preparations.
“As administration, from what we have gathered, there is little about them except that they are an upcoming side,” said Nkomo.
He said the strength of Nigeria as a footballing nation was something that is of public knowledge.
“There is nothing new about them. We have seen how good they are at Afcon and Chan tournaments, we will have to work extra hard to face them. Generally, the level of their football is higher,” said Nkomo.
He said the trip to the Seychelles had been an eye opener as How Mine were introduced to mind games.
At the pre-match conference the home team announced that they would use the away team’s dressing room. It is something they could have done quietly.
At the stadium How Mine sat outside the away team’s dressing room for over 25 minutes as debate raged on.
Bester Kalombo, the match commissioner, reasoned that it was up to the home team to say which was the dressing room for the visitors.
“We are all visitors, the home team knows which one is the away team’s dressing room,” said Kalombo before kick off.
It is believed that St Michel had claimed the scalps of several teams including Power Dynamos of Zambia through the use of the away dressing room.
Fans spoken to at half time said St Michel rarely lose matches when they use that dressing room.
Arne Joseph said: “We will win here at home. They have done the right thing by using that dressing room. If we win at home we don’t care about the overall result, we are a small nation passionate about football.”
Another factor that could have led to How Mine’s early collapse was the warm up. They behaved as if it was normal weather conditions back at home.
Former Shabanie, Dynamos and Warriors midfielder Francis Chandida said in humid and hot conditions players lose a lot during warm up. He said they should warm up for a shorter period.
“Perhaps the best is to loosen up and stretch so that you do not sweat too much because in the process you dehydrate which could weaken you.”
Nkomo said it was lessons learnt well and he is of the view that in future they will even ask for water points to be availed around the pitch.
In Nigeria temperatures could be high and carrying mealie meal for a taste of home food would also be encouraged.
How Mine will be home to Bayelsa on March 21.
Winners of this round will go into the hat with eight teams to fall by the way side in the African Champions League’s second round.
How Mine arrived in Zimbabwe on Sunday evening and proceeded to Bulawayo the following day.
Their participation in the tournament has been through sponsorship from Mbada Diamonds who have even kitted them making them look quite organised and professional in their tours so far.
Online Reporter