HWANGE will be hoping to pick maximum points when they face Dynamos in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the Colliery this Sunday as they continue their relegation fight following a mid-week loss.
Report by Henry Mhara Sports Reporter
The coal-miners lost 2-0 to Black Mambas in Harare on Wednesday and while there is talk of tensions ahead of the match after their violence-riddled reverse fixture, Hwange coach Nation Dube is only focused on a win.
Dube had a false start to his reign as the main man at Hwange to add up to Hwange’s losing streak to a record eight consecutive games.
“We lost to Mambas, but I was impressed with the way the team played. I just hope the team will continue with that performance against Dynamos.
“There is nothing special about Dynamos. It’s just like any other fixture that we are going to fulfil. We will play our normal game and hope to pick maximum points,” said Dube.
Dube and his assistant Mebelo Njekwa were allegedly manhandled by Dynamos marshals before their reverse fixture tie at Rufaro Stadium in April. The match went ahead without the pair with the Hwange technical bench manned by the team manager. Dynamos went on to win the ill-tempered game 4-2, which is a now a subject of arbitration.
Dube has buried the hatchet.
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“We are football people,” said Dube. “What happened then was regrettable, but we will not revenge. We are not going to intimidate them in any way. We are not going to employ any dirty tricks, but we will play them in the field of play,” he added.
On Wednesday, Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya made a passionate appeal for a welcome reception from the hosts.
“We will be prepared for any eventuality at the Colliery, but I suppose Hwange are a football team with football people and they will behave in a football way. That’s what we expect them to be,” said Ndiraya.
“On our side, we are going there much prepared. We have to prepare for anything they will throw at us, but like I said we expect them to be professional and treat us in a professional way,” reiterated Ndiraya.
Dynamos are leading the log standings with 55 points, two better than nearest rivals Highlanders, while Hwange are seated precariously just above the relegation cut-off point with 26 points.
Highlanders, still smarting from a 3-0 loss to Monomotapa that tipped the scale in favour of Dynamos, will host Mambas at Barbourfields on Sunday.
Most of this match’s focus will be centred on how Highlanders players react to last week’s morale-sapping defeat, which was their first in a record 24-matches unbeaten run.
