Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
HARARE City believe their fine record in the Chibuku Super Cup will spur them on as they go out in search of a repeat of the 2015 season when they won the tournament. The Sunshine Boys, who are one of the dominant teams in the tournament since its rebirth three years ago, are positive they will cause tremors again this year after scaling the first hurdle by eliminating giants Highlanders.
The club’s secretary-general Matthew Marara yesterday was brimming with confidence as they prepared for a date against army side Black Rhinos in the quarter-finals at Rufaro tomorrow. The Sunshine Boys have never faltered in the preliminary stages since they featured in the semis of the inaugural edition in 2014 and then the two previous finals.
“We are highly motivated. The spirits are high and we have the belief that we always go far in this tournament, check the records. So we are very positive that we will go past the quarter-final stage.
“The strategy is to score as many goals as possible. We have players like William Manondo who has done so well in this tournament since 2014 and we will be banking on their experience,” said Marara. Harare City beat Highlanders 2-1 to progress to the last eight courtesy of goals from Manondo and Grey Kufandada in a tension — filled match at Mandava. But their fortunes in the Chibuku Super Cup are in sharp contrast with their form in the league where they are fighting for survival. The Sunshine Boys are deep in the relegation matrix with seven matches remaining in the season.
Marara believes winning the biggest domestic knock-out tournament will provide the best consolation. Harare City are still keen to play in the Confederation Cup following a disappointing debut in Africa last year when they were eliminated in the first round.
“This year’s campaign reminds us of the 2014 season when we were fighting relegation but we defied the odds to reach the final. Then, the most disappointing thing happened when we lost to FC Platinum on penalties in the final. But this time we would want to do better than that. This is an opportunity for us to get something to cheer us up because of our position on the log standings and we have to grab the chance. Again, it’s self-motivating to the players. It’s an opportunity to get exposure at a high level because there is the ticket to play in the CAF Confederation Cup for the winners. Look at CAPS United, when they played in the Champions League some of their players got lucrative offers from foreign teams and it can only enhance the players’ careers. As a club we are prepared to help any player who wishes to further his career outside our borders. So it’s up to the players to rise and shine and create the opportunities for themselves,” said Marara.
Fixtures
Tomorrow
Chapungu v How Mine (Ascot), Black Rhinos v Harare City (Rufaro)
Sunday
Shabanie Mine v CAPS United (Maglas), Bulawayo City v Yadah (Barbourfields)
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