Hwange FC are bracing for a tough challenge from Shabanie Mine at the Colliery Stadium on Sunday as focus shifts back to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Hwange are no pushovers especially at home after they thumped Monomotapa 5-1 in their last league match while Shabanie Mine succumbed to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of log leaders Highlanders at Maglas Stadium during the same weekend.
Technical manager Tennant Chilumba said Hwange were anticipating a difficult task against Shabanie Mine but were still hoping for a positive result. “Our preparations for the game against Shabanie Mine have been going on very well. We lost 3-2 to Shabanie Mine when we played them in a pre-season friendly, but we are expecting a good result this time. “Shabanie Mine are a very good team and have a good coach, but we are ready for the game. We are not going to be affected by the inactivity of the past weeks. Francisco Zvikumbawire and Timothy Sibanda are back in the team,” he said. Zvikumbawire and Sibanda were part of the national team. Chilumba revealed Zambian import Aaron Katebe was still in Zambia with the national team, but said this would be the opportune time to use junior players who include Oscar Lungu, Tryfortune Ncube and Evans Rusike. Shabanie Mine assistant coach Elvis Muuya said: “It is always difficult to play away from home, but we will do our best to salvage points in the game. The break has been good because all the injured players are now back and we hope all of them will rise to the occasion.” Hwange should be wary of former FC Platinum forward Nelson Mazivisa who has been lethal upfront this term. Shabanie Mine are on position five on the log standings with 15 points from nine games while Hwange are on position seven on 14 points from the same number of games. Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Fixtures: Saturday: FC Platinum v Quelaton (Mandava), Black Mambas v Motor Action (Morris Depot) Sunday: Highlanders v Chicken Inn (Barbourfields), Buffaloes v Gunners (Sakubva), Hwange v Shabanie Mine (Colliery), Hardbody v CAPS United (Ascot), Monomotapa v Blue Rangers (Rufaro).
