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Veronica Gwaze Sports Reporter
HERENTALS will be looking to utilise home advantage in their quest to claim their first win of the 2023 Castle Lager Premiership season when they face ZPC Kariba at National Sports Stadium this Saturday.
The “Students” are also banking on their supporters to provide a confidence booster at the giant stadium.
A win for the Kumbirayi Mutuwekuziva’s charges will overturn the win-less spell which has struck the team in the opening four encounters.
After registering a defeat against Triangle in their first game, Herentals went on to manage three consecutive draws against Green Fuel, Manica Diamonds and Ngezi Platinum Stars respectively.
Out of a potential 12 points, the Students have only bagged three.
Although they have not lost at home so far, the gaffer notes that his boys need to capitalise on home advantage to break the spell.
“Utilising home advantage will be key. We need to be ourselves, calm, collected and control the game. But above all we should enjoy it to win it,” he said.
“Being on home ground means more fans and maximum support hence we should also capitalise on that considering that it gives us some level of confidence, which is exactly what we need at the moment.
“The game is very important for us. Anyone wants to be their best and to impress at home. Some of our fans do not often travel for away games so we need not disappoint them when they get the chance to come and support us.”
Despite completing last season on position eight with 48 points, 11 clear of ZPC Kariba who sat on number 12, Mutuwekuziva has been preaching to his troops that they should not treat their opponents lightly.
He is currently focusing on addressing the gaps in his defensive end which have left the Students having to come from behind in their matches to salvage something.
In their last outing, against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab, the Pink Boys went for the breather down 2-0 before coming back to score three goals in the second half for a 3-3 draw.
For some minutes, Herentals enjoyed a lead before Marlon Mushonga drilled home a late equaliser to ensure the visitors walked away with just a point.
“We have not been solid in defence and it is something that we are working on but it cannot happen over a night,” said Mutuwekuziva.
“It is work in progress, we need to address the flaws and I feel we are in the right direction.
“We are trying to double our work rate to manage clean sheets. We are also working against complacency and to improve mental concentration for us to defend and attack well.
“Playing as a team, enjoying the game and taking full control of the match is what we want . . . in fact, we want to evolve and make the game more fun than painful. So the first step is to love what we do as a team.”
With all players available for selection this week, Mutuwekuziva believes he has enough arsenal for the encounter.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Cranborne Bullets v Yadah (NSS 12pm), Simba Bhora v Hwange (NSS 3pm)
Saturday: Sheasham v Green Fuel (Mandava), Herentals v ZPC Kariba (NSS), Manica Diamonds v Ngezi Platinum (Gibbo), *postponed: Highlanders v Dynamos (BF)
Sunday: CAPS United v FC Platinum (NSS), Triangle v Black Rhinos (Gibbo), Bulawayo Chiefs v Chicken Inn (Luveve)
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