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Nation Dube

Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter
HWANGE coach Nation Dube believes the arrival of champions Dynamos for a blockbuster Castle Lager Premiership tie at the Colliery this weekend presents his high-flying side with a good barometer to gauge how far they have improved.
Dube has also pleaded for calm, from both sides, after the two teams’ recent matches have been marred by ugly incidents.

The coalminers have been impressive this season and have led the championship race, at some stage, and host the Glamour Boys knowing victory could sweep them back to the top should results elsewhere go in their favour.

Highlanders lead the championship race while Hwange are in second place with DeMbare, who haven’t illuminated the stage yet, in third place.

“I don’t have any injuries as of today (yesterday),” said Dube.

“It is like any other game and there is no special attention to this game but what I know is it would be a tough game and a good one as well and let’s hope no one will spoil it.”

The coach insists his team is doing themselves a favour by picking up points now to avoid being sucked in a relegation dog fight later in the season.

“When we play all our games we always want to win and we will only say we are out of relegation zone after 28 games,” said Dube.

“For now we are just 12 points ahead of the team at the bottom and that is just four games. So we are saying let’s fight, fight and continue fighting.

“But it is so encouraging that after ten games we are in the position that we find ourselves in and we have been playing well.

“Maybe this year we won’t fight relegation and we will not be under pressure in the last matches of the season.”

The coach said everyone in his team was focused on the same goal.

“Everything is in order, all the players are playing well and everyone is really fighting,” he said.

Last year, Hwange beat the Glamour Boys 4-2 at the Colliery while the Harare giants won the reverse leg at Rufaro.

At Sakubva this afternoon, Buffaloes will host How Mine hoping to collect maximum points after a poor run of late.

Coach Luke Masomere said they know what they are facing.

“We are well prepared for the game and we are welcoming back Simon Choenda and Prosper Matizanadzo who were suspended but we have lost our dependable strikers in captain Jacob Muzokomba and Malvin Fenyeka,” said Masomere.

“But I am not worried as the replacements should do the job. It is a must win game.

“We know they are a good team, they played well in Africa, they are financially sound and have the material but they are coming to Sakubva and we want to restore our pride.”

Masomere said while the players’ morale might be low because of the financial challenges they were facing, his men had the mental strength to fight for a victory.

Fixtures
Today
Buffaloes v How Mine (Sakubva, SS9)

Saturday
ZPC Kariba v Chapungu (Gwanzura, SS9), FC Platinum v Black Rhinos (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Chiredzi (Luveve)

Sunday
Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), CAPS United v Shabanie Mine (NSS, SS9), Triangle v Highlanders (Gibbo)

Monday
Harare City v Bantu Rovers (Rufaro, SS9)