admindefeat this season and they go onto the field this afternoon against an undefeated Old Georgians who are the only side yet to suffer a loss in the National Rugby League.
But Sports Club manager, Blessing “Bhuru” Chiutare, believes they have learnt their lessons from that defeat and have to pick themselves up if they are to be counted at the end of the season.
Old Georgians are the only side to have beaten Old Hararians while OH handed Sportivo only their second defeat in a year.
“Old Georgians are provocative in their approach to the game and this might lead to our players losing temper. What we need to do is first make sure that we are disciplined, we need to have cool heads and then, of course, play our usual running game,” said Chiutare.
Old Georgians coach, Grant Mitchell, is cautious going into this afternoon’s game but feels it is going to be tough.
“This game will be, as it always has been, hard fought and closely-contested between two healthy rivals, we do not have an advantage over Sports Club.
“If anything that defeat should motivate them.
“Those (previous) matches mean nothing on game day as week-to-week things evolve in each camp.
“We are simply looking forward to a great game and today’s game is only a part of the process to the championship and we can’t predict the outcome but we have prepared to have an effect on it (the game),” said the former Cheetahs’ player.
Sports Club’s Simbarashe Chirimuuta is doubtful for today’s encounter while eighth-man Owen Chiutare has been ruled out following a shoulder injury he picked up against the Old Boys last week but centre Daniel Hondo makes a return to the fold.
Hondo was not available for last week’s game as he was on national duty with the Cheetahs in London where Zimbabwe failed to make it for the World Sevens Series core membership, falling in the quarter finals.
“We are not going to have any major changes to the side that played last week save for Owen who is out on injury and Chirimuuta might get a clearance from the physio to play but we are still waiting on that.
“Hondo is back and he is one player who has a big role in terms of marshaling the backline in both defence and attack but in the forwards we will have to play around with Shingi Mpofu and Passion in place of Owen.
“We missed him (Hondo) last week in the sense that he is good when it comes to uplifting the team spirit, he is a good communicator and a mature motivator but all the same the backline we had was good enough to win us games,” added Chiutare.
Old Hararians will be on the road to Bulawayo where they face off against Matland Warriors at Hartfield Rugby Grounds.
And despite last weekend’s win OH coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge feels they still need to improve.
“I hope we improve from last week’s performance
“We did not play as planned because the boys panicked and we put to waste two tries maybe due to excitement as well and playing Sports Club is always tense.
“They were last year’s league runners-up, and obviously playing in Bulawayo there are a number of factors that would come through that would have an influence on the outcome of the game but as OH we just have to concentrate on our own game,” added Mandenge.
For Old Hararians, Tangai “Too-bad” Nemadire is also back from the Cheetahs assignment while Gardner Nechironga will be serving his final of the three-game suspension following a red card.
Fixtures
Zvishavane Bulls v Western Panthers, Gweru Sports Club v Old Miltonians (Gweru Sports Club), Harare Sports Club v Old Georgians (Sports Club 3pm) Matland Warriors v Old Hararians (Hartsfield Rugby Grounds).
Online Reporter