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BULAWAYO rugby giants Matabeleland Warriors will be out for revenge when they take on Harare Sports Club in the National Rugby League third place playoff in Harare tomorrow. Matabeleland Warriors coach Rueben Kumpasa yesterday said they were geared up for the encounter and were looking forward to ending the season on a good note.
Last season the Bulawayo side lost 19-22 to their Harare counterparts.
Kumpasa is confident that his charges will put up a better performance than the one they displayed when they lost 15-47 to Old Hararians in the semi-finals.
“Everyone is raring to go. The guys have been training hard and morale is high as the guys want to end the season on a high. We know that Harare Sports Club have good players but we also have equally good guys capable of matching them. We have to concentrate throughout the game, try to open them up and avoid giving away the ball unnecessarily.
“Last week the players disappointed me because they didn’t show any intention of winning that game. We just gave up and didn’t fight. I spent the better part of this week emphasising the need to play as a team rather than individual brilliance. I hope this time around we will be able to stick to our game plan throughout the match,” said Kumpasa.
Some of the players that have been key in Matabeleland Warriors’ success include veteran national team player Lucky Sithole, Biselele Tshamala, Jafet Ndebele, injured Matabeleland Rugby Football Board boss Tapiwa Mangezi, Ozy Lynx, Cleopas Makotose, Jan Ferreira, Brian Dube, Kudzi Mutsekenyedzi and speed-merchant Lloyd Machanjaire.
The Harare Sports Club-Matabeleland Warriors encounter will be the main curtain raiser to the final that will feature Old Hararians and Old Georgians.
Fixtures
Harare Sports Club v Matabeleland Warriors, Old Hararians v Old Georgians (all matches at Old Hararians Sports Club)
Online Reporter