FORMER Highlanders Football Club captain Gilbert Banda says he is ready to face his former paymasters when his new team How Mine clash with Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Sukoluhle Mthethwa
The Metallon Gold-sponsored outfit How Mine stunned Highlanders with a 2-1 victory when the two sides met in the reverse fixture at Barbourfields Stadium in May when Philani Mabhena who was later replaced by his assistant Philani “Beefy” Ncube was in charge.
How Mine who are at home have opted to play Highlanders at Barbourfields instead of their usual venue Luveve in an effort to maximise revenue from gate takings in the derby.
Banda left Highlanders at the end of 2011 to join Midlands side FC Platinum, but parted ways with the club before joining Zifa Southern Region Division One side Bantu Rovers mid-season last year before moving to How Mine early this year.
The former Highlanders captain yesterday told NewsDay that he is geared for Sunday’s match.
“The match is no different from any other league game. I treat it as any other game and to me it is not a grudge match. It is possible for us to beat Highlanders like we did in the first encounter. When I walk into the pitch my target will be three points for my team,” he said.
Banda said they expect a tough encounter as both teams try to improve their positions on the log standings.
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“Highlanders will want to win the match to pile pressure on log leaders Dynamos, but we also want maximum points so that we move up the log table. We want to finish the league in a respectable position,” he said.
Highlanders captain Innocent Mapuranga also said they are targeting maximum points.
“It is going to be a very tricky encounter because it is a derby. We are training very hard in preparation for the game. We want a positive result because we lost the first match. However, Sunday’s match is going to be different because we are gunning for the three points,” he said.
Highlanders are aware of the danger their city neighbours could cause as How Mine continued with the giant killer tag by shocking Dynamos winning 1-0 in a league match at Luveve Stadium in July.
Meanwhile, Highlanders will be without one of their key players, attacking midfielder Milton Ncube after accumulating three yellow cards.
