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Sikhumbuzo Moy0 Senior Sports Reporter
SUSPENDED Highlanders forward Milton Ncube believes his absence from tomorrow’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League derby clash against How Mine will instead spur his teammates to perform even better for a positive result.In his motivational message to the black and white clad army, Ncube said anything less that a win over their Matabeleland South headquartered rivals will not be acceptable and believes victory would be certain.
Ncube is one of the 10 Premiership players who will miss week 21 of action due to suspension as Zimbabweans wait for Super Sunday matches which have also been dubbed Revenge Sunday in some quarters.
Other suspended players include Dynamos utility player Thomas Magorimbo, Obey Mwerahari and Clive Boroma both of Monomotapa, Charles Makoto of Triangle, Marshal Marima of Chicken Inn, Temba Ndlovu of Buffaloes, Shadrec Jimu of Black Rhinos, Blessed Mbavaira of Shabanie Mine and team of the moment, Caps United’s Arnold Chiveya.
Ncube picked up his first yellow card against Harare City way back in April with the Hwange clash in June in which he scored the winner seeing him get his second of the season and the third coming in Highlanders’ 2-0 win over Monomotapa last week.
“With all due respect to How Mine, I think anything less than a win will not be a welcome result especially at this stage of the season,” said the national team player.
The match comes exactly 120 days after How Mine handed their more illustrious opponents their second loss of the season at Barbourfields Stadium. Goals from Herbert Dick who also scored an own goal and Nqobile Mpala were enough to condemn Bosso to an embarrassing derby defeat.
“I am naturally disappointed not to be playing on Sunday but I am also confident that the guys will do it come 3pm on Sunday. I am not sure whether my presence would have made an impact or not, remember in the reverse fixture I had a terrible game so you never know,” said Ncube who is Highlanders’ leading goal scorer with five goals.
Highlanders lie third on the standings with 37 points and a win tomorrow and a loss or draw to either Dynamos or Harare City will see Kelvin Kaindu’s boys bouncing back to the top of the log table.
Harare City are on the road for a tricky fixture against Triangle at Gibbo Stadium while the capital comes to a standstill when Dynamos host Caps United at Rufaro Stadium.
How Mine coach Philani Ncube said the match would be a fight of contrasting reasons which would provide for some good performances by either side in the derby.
“We are fighting for survival while Highlanders are eager to land the Premiership title,” said Ncube.
He has a clean bill of health in his camp.
How Mine are a stubborn side who have even claimed the scalp of log leaders and defending champions Dynamos. They have good balance in their squad something that could work to their favour and for most of their seasoned campaigners like Mpala and Gilbert Banda, two players who have tasted international club competition with Highlanders and Dick with AmaZulu, Thandazani Ndlovu with FC Platinum, there is enough experience on display for the miners.
Highlanders coach Kaindu said they were ready for the match. He said there were no injury worries within his camp to lose sleep over.
Highlanders got their campaign back on track last week when they beat Monomotapa 2-0 courtesy of strikes by Gabriel Nyoni and their most outstanding player so far Bruce Kangwa.
It’s a battle for the relegation haunted teams at Dulibadzimu Stadium when Tripple B plays host to a troubled Hwange who are low in morale.
Hwange have been blowing hot and cold, winning emphatically and losing where they were least expected to lose. The community is still convinced though that the club has what it takes to survive relegation with former skipper Aleck Nyoni last week calling for the Colliery community to come out in full support of the boys during these last 10 games.
Hwange have battle hardened, tried and tested players in goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda, skipper Gerald “Choto” Ndlovu, national team player Erick Chipeta, rock solid defender David Boriwondo, seasoned striker Gilbert Zulu as well as pint sized Farayi Vimisayi.
Fixtures
Today: Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos (Luveve), Tripple B v Hwange (Dulibadzimu), Shabanie Mine v Motor Action (Maglas0
Sunday
How Mine v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Caps United (Rufaro0, Triangle v Harare City (Gibbo0, FC Platinum v Monomotapa (Mandava)
Monday
Black Mambas v Buffaloes (Morris Depot).
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