Harrison to unleash rookies

Tadious Manyepo, Harare Bureau
HARARE City coach, Mark Harrison, has hinted that he could field a young squad for the team’s remaining three Castle Lager Premiership fixtures.

The Sunshine Boys take on Highlanders at Barbourfields tomorrow in a match they have to win to consolidate fifth place on the log.

They have accumulated 46 points from 31 matches, six behind fourth-placed Triangle and for a team which still harbours a top-four ambition, they have to win all their remaining fixtures and pray the Lowveld side drop points along the way.

Harrison has occasionally fielded young players in both the league and Chibuku Super Cup where they have given a good account of themselves.

And with the Chibuku Super Cup final coming seven days after their league clash against Bosso, Harrison yesterday said that he will use rookies on Sunday.

He said there was need to rest his senior players in preparation for the Chibuku Super Cup final showdown against Triangle where he knows a win will give his side a ticket to represent the country in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Harrison, however, stressed the need for the young players to play for themselves and also help the team retain their chances of finishing in the top-four.

“We have a lot of young players in our squad who we have been working with throughout the season and we have a cup final coming next week so we have to be cautious about that. We will probably field a young team but the intention remains, we need to win,” said Harrison.

“The match is on Sunday and we will not travel from Bulawayo until Monday so it’s an opportunity for me to rest players and give exposure to the young ones in such a wonderful stadium against Highlanders. Big crowd, big atmosphere, big test but I am not afraid for them.

“I know they have the talent and that talent needs to be exposed at the right time and I think now is the time. They have to enjoy themselves and express themselves fully before a big Barbourfields crowd.

“We will start with a relatively strong eleven with a very young bench and they will get involved. With three games before the season finishes, I will repeat myself we have played well, we have achieved a lot given where we are coming from. We are fifth on the log and I am sure if we can win all the remaining games we will present ourselves with an opportunity to finish in the top-four.

“Look, what is very important is progress. We need to progress and probably gate-crash our way into the top-four. But look, we have already achieved given where we are coming from.

“Hopefully, we will be better next season. We can use the young players in the last three games. I would like to try that. For development’s sake, you do not play the young players often. You need to play them in the right time and I think we have done that and now is the time for them to gain more exposure and would like to think they will rise to the occasion,” Harrison said.

Harare City lost their plot for a strong finish after drawing 16 of their matches and they now must win against Highlanders if they are to finish the season in the top four.