HARARAE - Shabanie Mine coach Luke Masomere is seriously worried about a backlash from Hwange when the two teams meet in a Castle Premiership match at Maglas this afternoon.

Masomere likened Hwange to a “wounded lion” after suffering an embarrassing 4-1 home defeat to Shabanie at the Colliery in the first half of the season.

Shabanie, who are placed fourth on the log standings with 35 points from 20 games, are eyeing a respectable finish on the standings after an impressive start to the season.

Masomere fears this will add pressure on his team today and for the remainder of the season.

“I am cautious going into this match because we are playing against a team that would want to exert revenge on us after we beat them at their home,” Masomere told the Daily News yesterday.

“They are not under pressure at all, so it is dangerous to play against such a team. I am glad that we found our winning formula and I hope that we are going to continue from where we left after beating Monomotapa in our last match. All my players are injury free and raring to go.”

Shabanie produced a dazzling late second half performance to come from a goal behind to beat the coal miners 4-1 in July at the Colliery with the Premiership’s leading goal scorer, Nelson Mazivisa, scoring a brace while Caleb Masocha and Lennon Chisunga weighed in with a goal each.

The well-travelled coach also refused, almost predictably, to throw his hat in the title race.
 
“We don’t want to put ourselves under too much pressure but the thing is we are ambitious and we want to finish in a respectable position,” he said.

FIXTURES

Today: Motor Action v Black Mambas (Motor Action Sports Club), Quelaton v FC Platinum (Luveve), Gunners v Buffaloes, (Lafarge), CAPS United v Hardbody, (NSS), Shabanie v Hwange, (Maglas), Blue Rangers v Monomotapa (Gwanzura).

Tomorrow: Harare City v Dynamos (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Luveve).