adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Rugby League defending champions Harare Sports Club are aiming to make it into the final, but they will not have it easy when they take on former champions Old Georgians in a semi-final clash tomorrow at Old Georgians Sports Club.
Old Georgians have so far been the better of the two sides, beating the Nsikelelo “Sykes” Sibanda twice in the regular season as Grant Mitchell’s side triumphed both home and away but Sports Club assistant coach Blessing “Bhuru” Chiutare says they are not under pressure.
It was in the fifth week of play that the two sides first clashed and Sports Club were edged 26-21 in front of their home crowd and this was the Dragons first league win over Sports Club since the league opener of April 2011 at the same venue.
Last year Sports Club were again dominant, getting the better of the Dragons both at home and away but the tables seem to have turned as the Groombridge-based club is yet to suffer a defeat to the Red Lions.
“Look we have lost twice to Old Georgians this year and I do not feel that we are under any pressure, instead they are because they are looking at maintaining a clean sweep of us this season and make it three out of three.
“But it’s time for us to step up now, we are the defending champions aiming to make it to the final, the defeats we suffered to OGs were not that huge and were caused by mistakes on our part. We have worked on our mistakes and I am sure we will make it to the final,” said Chiutare.
Chiutare — who is the forwards coach at Sports Club — feels that they have to play their game and make no mistakes if they are to retain their title, which is also his side’s main goal despite having a largely young squad.
However, Mitchell believes that the better side on the day will make it for the top two finish despite the history between the two sides, adding that his squad is well prepared to make it to the final.
“The league fixtures we have played so far mean nothing at this stage. It is quite simply two teams who need to be in the final and they will go all out to win.
“We are now in the knockout stage and anything can happen. But as Old Georgians we are preparing well enough to progress to the final,” said the former Cheetahs backliner.
Mitchell added they do not take anything away from the Red Lions despite their good run over their Harare rivals in the league this year, saying he will give Sports Club all due respect.
“We always have a good match playing Harare Sports Club, regardless of which period of the season we are at and we both respect each other’s abilities and efforts.”
Mental preparation, Mitchell believes, will have a huge impact on how his charges are going to fare come the day while the off-field relations his players have developed will also come in as an advantage.
“At this stage of the season the technical and physical aspects of the game have been taken care of and the accuracy in which we deliver these two features is crucial and in addition to that to be successful we also need to be mentally prepared and use that to our advantage.
“The current group of players at OGs are a very unique group, unlike years gone by. They are a hugely talented group of rugby players who have formed strong bonds off the field.
It is this common goal and camaraderie that creates the team,” added Mitchell.
In the other semi-final, Old Hararians will take on last year’s runners up Mat’land Warriors at the same venue.
Online Reporter