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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
MUTARE CITY might be sitting at the foot of the top-flight standings, but Harare City coach Mark Harrison says they deserve respect.
The two teams meet in a Castle Lager Premiership battle at Rufaro tomorrow.
The Mutare side are nine points adrift of safety and with most of their senior players having left the club in the just-ended mid-season transfer period, it’s not looking good for them.
But, with 14 matches still to be played before the curtain comes down on the 2018 season, all hope is not lost for the Manicaland outfit.
And Harrison knows it is teams like Mutare City who can shock those ranked higher in their day.
Harare City have 31 points and the British coach had initially set a target of 40 points on their return to the Premiership via the back door.
“We have failed to register a single win in the second half of the season and I am looking for a response from the boys,” said Harrison.
“Yes, Mutare City are not performing very well and they are bottom of the standings, but they are fighting for their life now.
“So, we are going into the game knowing in our mind that they (Mutare City) are looking for something because they know every point now can brighten their chances of staying in the league.
“We have a job to do and if we do it properly, with the correct intensity, we should win the game.
“I think in the last few games we didn’t earn the right to win games and we need a response and reaction.”
He said his men had suffered from complacency in the past.
“There is no place for complacency at this stage of the marathon.
“We need to concentrate and try to bag the maximum points.
“The guys have realised that I am not very happy with their performance in the last three games.
“We need to bring back our intensity and we need that intensity to take us to the end of the season. We need to push as much as we can.”
Harrison backed his new striker Ishamel Wadi to impress against Mutare City tomorrow.
“Wadi (Ishmael) is a good player and has shown in training that he is ready to play a pivotal part for the team and we are looking forward to see what he can do for the team,” said Harrison.
“Basically, I have a very balanced squad and by bringing in Wadi, I was looking at giving the squad the much-needed depth, especially in attack and I hope and trust that he will come handy in addressing some of our issues in front of goal.
“He is a prolific goal-scorer, tried-and-tested, but we will be patient with him because we know how good he is if given support.”
Online Reporter