‘We will use a jackhammer’

Senior Sports Reporter
AS the countdown to Saturday’s Caf Orange Confederation Cup gathers pace, How Mine FC coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube has demanded total commitment from his charges. The gold miners enter into the unknown territory of continental football against little known Chuoni FC of Zanzibar who they play host to at Barbourfields Stadium in the first leg of the preliminary round on Saturday.

Chikurupati, as they are known to their legion of fans, are hoping for a memorable dance in the African Safari even though Ncube is wary of the visitors.

On Monday, the 2009 Premiership Coach of the Year took his squad for an uninterrupted camp on the outskirts of Bulawayo in a bid to keep them focused on the game. “There is nothing in the Internet about Chuoni FC and this makes it difficult to plan for such kind of opponents.

We don’t know any of their players or the style they use. That is why I have told my boys to challenge me and show that they deserve to be in the team.

“Like I said before, we are going into virgin territory and as such we need to be prepared for anything. I anticipate that they will be content with a draw and they will try to close their game so we have to work on penetrating them from all angles. If it means using a jackhammer, then we will come with one so that we break their wall. We just have to score and carry a healthy lead when we travel for the reverse fixture,” said Ncube.

The ambitious Ncube will bank on old horses who were crucial in their last season Premiership campaign to carry his team through. Captain Hebert Dick, defenders Gilbert Banda and Nyasha Mukumbi, Menard Mupera, goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura and speed merchant striker Kuda Musharu are expected to form the backbone of the team.

Competition is tight in the miners’ camp with Brighton Dube and Morris Kadzola fighting for a starting place on the right side of defence, Mupera, Xolisani Moyo, Warren Dube, former Njube Sundowns and Harare City’s Tendai Ngulube, ex-Caps United’s Marvel Samaneka, dribbling wizard Timothy January, experienced Wonder Sithole and Thembani Masuku competing for places in midfield.

How Mine’s registered strikers for the Caf Orange Confederation Cup are only Qinani Sibanda and Musharu. “No one is guaranteed a starting place and because we have at least two players for each position, there is healthy competition. I will only announce my squad on Friday night which gives everyone a fair chance to impress at training,” said Ncube.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s Caf Orange Champions League representatives Dynamos welcomed eight players – goalkeeper George Chigova, leftback Augustine Mbara, utility player Oscar Machapa, Themba Ndlovu, Partson Jaure who is also the national team skipper, club captain Tawanda Muparati, Simba Sithole and Masimba Mambare who joined them during the New Year’s holiday from the Chan finals.

DeMbare had a rest yesterday with manager Richard Chihoro happy that the players from Chan are injury-free. “We are resuming training tomorrow morning, with national team players joining us. We are happy with the news we heard from head coach (Callisto Pasuwa) that players from Chan are injury-free,” Chihoro said.