How Mine completed a Castle Lager Premiership soccer double over Bulawayo giants Highlanders this season after this narrow victory in a city derby at Barbourfields yesterday.
By Ricky Zililo
How Mine…… (0) 1
Highlanders… 0
Former Highlanders midfielder Warren Dube punished his former paymasters with a 50th minute goal after getting to the end of a Simba Sithole cross from the left before unleashing a volley that beat Bosso’s Munyaradzi Diya all systems out at the near post.
The victory for the miners saw them move a place up the ladder to seventh with 31 points from 21 outings. It was also Philani “Beefy” Ncube’s first win as a coach against Highlanders.
An excited Ncube, who was assistant coach to Philani Mabhena in their first match of the season where How Mine beat Highlanders 2-1, said their strategy worked well against the former league champions who are third on the log with 37 points.
Bosso now trail log leaders Dynamos, who won the Harare derby against CAPS United 1-0 at Rufaro yesterday, by four points.
“Tactically I think Highlanders were superior than us but our strategy, which was to allow them to enjoy possession and then catch them on counter-attacks, worked well. What they did not know is that Philani ‘Beefy’ Ncube had other plans for them, they enjoyed that ball possession and my players were always behind the ball.
“I am happy that we picked up maximum points against a big club and it’s a bonus for me that at last I have beaten Highlanders,” Ncube said.
How Mine were the first to make a meaningful attempt at goal and had their striker Simba Sithole been more composed in the first minute, he could have given his side an early lead.
Dube threaded a pass to Sithole who did well to evade a challenge from Highlanders’ central defender Dumisani Ndlovu but with only Diya to beat, the How Mine striker shot weakly at the waiting arms of the Bosso goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, it was Highlanders’ turn to miss a glorious scoring opportunity when their striker Gabriel Nyoni shot wide with the goal at his mercy after he was sent through by the overlapping Bruce Kangwa from the left.
From then on, Bosso continued to enjoy possession of the ball with Mthulisi Maphosa, Peter “Rio” Moyo, Masimba Mambare, Simon Munawa and Bhekimpilo Ncube dominating the midfield battle.
Despite having control of the midfield, Highlanders’ midfielders failed to penetrate the home side’s defence which was ably marshaled by skipper Gilbert Banda and Hebert Dick. This forced Bosso to resort to long range efforts which did not bother How Mine’s goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura.
In the 24th minute, Mambare failed to direct his effort, hit from the edge of the box, at goal and fired the ball over to the terraces.
The How Mine coach Ncube pulled out an ineffective Eddie Nkulungo in the 27th minute, introducing Thembani Masuku and the move saw the miners neutralising Bosso’s midfield forays as the latter marked out Maphosa, who engineered most of Highlanders’ moves.
Highlanders’ defender Lawson Nkomo’s long-range effort two minutes after the break missed the target by inches.
Three minutes later, Highlanders lost possession in How Mine’s half before Menard Mupera sent a long pass to Sithole on the left and the Warriors’ striker left Innocent Mapuranga for dead before sending a cross to an unmarked Dube who had ghosted in from the blindside.
Dube coolly brought down the ball and fired a ferocious shot that beat a hapless Diya from the near post to give How Mine a lead.
Bhekimpilo should have equalised for Highlanders in the 57th minute when he benefited from a Munawa pass and standing next to the penalty spot, Bhekimpilo shot to the stands. Just after the hour mark, Mazarura was called to action where he punched away a well-taken free-kick by Nkomo.
Heritein Masuku, who had replaced Bkekimpilo in the 63rd minute, dispossessed Timothy January before sending a through pass to an unmarked Mambare who disappointed his fans as he once again shot over to the terraces.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu conceded that the defeat had dented their championship hopes difficult.
“It’s unfortunate that we gave away three points. What is worrying is that the goal we conceded was our opponents’ only attempt at goal which shows that defensively we are not doing well. Going forward there is a need for us to start believing in ourselves,” said Kaindu.
He said that even his substitutions failed to make an impact with only Heritein seeming to be the only one who came from the bench who was more involved with the play.
Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube, who replaced Maphosa in the 58th minute, was very passive and so was Master Masitara who came on for Mambare in the 75th minute.
Teams
How Mine: E. Mazarura, H. Dick (N. Mukumbi 76th minute), G. Banda, K. Banda, B. Dube, W. Dube, T. January, M. Mupera, X. Moyo (Q. Sibanda 53rd minute), S. Sithole, E. Nkulungo (T. Masuku 27th minute)
Highlanders: M. Diya, D. Ndlovu, I. Mapuranga, B. Kangwa, S. Munawa, M. Maphosa (N. Ncube 58th minute), M. Mambare (M. Masitara 75th minute), B. Ncube (H. Masuku 63rd minute), P. Moyo, L. Nkomo, G. Nyoni
