adminJeffrey Murimbechi Sports Correspondent
OLD Hararians Sports Club’s amazing run this season comes full circle tomorrow when the former league champions take on last year’s losing finalist in the first semi-final for a berth in next week’s final.
For the first time in nine years OH has reached the semi-finals of the league at the top of the log after the round-robin stages, thanks to game plan permutations which helped “MaRasta” maintain an almost unbeaten run.
Team captain Tichafara Makwanya is certain that his side will pull out a victory to ease through to the finals.
“I think we have got every chance to win and everything is in our favour, we’ve beaten them twice already and I am sure we can do it again.
“I am sure (Matabeleland Warriors) will take us on up-front because they have a good pack and I believe they have a few guys coming in from South Africa and they will be very physical up-front,” said Makwanya.
Matabeleland Warriors are likely to replenish their squad with foreign-based forwards David Kapuya, Witness Mandizha, Sables capped Sanele Sibanda and Biselele Tshamala and all four are workhorses that will test the OH endurance, which has been a strong cause of concern for the Harare giants.
“Our biggest issue has been with the guys applying themselves; I think the guys have been satisfied with 40-minute performances instead of taking up the next 40, so this time we are looking to play a full 80-minute game.”
OH are upbeat after a victory against second-placed Old Georgians in a 28-23 thriller, but the OH talisman is not negligent of the fact that the league has reached the play off stages and any moment of brilliance could change the final outcome despite a strong build-up to the finals.
He said: “The stage where we are right now is difficult to judge any team, one performance, even one line break can change the game.”
Meanwhile, the second semi-final is a much-awaited clash of a long time rivalry when defending Champions Harare sports Club meet Old Georgians.
Sportivo lost to both OH and OGs in the season, OGs in particular have convincingly dominated the Red Lions throughout the season as their all-round team effort outdid any form fight back from the defending champions.
Old Georgians’ Dragons has a reputation for being the best conditioned fittest and technically solid defensive team this season while Sportivo have a knack for springing unexpected brilliant attacking set-pieces from their forceful back-line players.
“It is going to be a tough match and I am quite confident that our young players will be up to the task.
“We lost a lot of seniors at the beginning of the season and the players that have come up have stepped up, yes we have lost more games this season than we did last year, but I think with the calibre of players that we have in the team we are capable of taking it to OGs and taking the game,” said HSC skipper Eddy “Fresh” Manyere.
Harare Sports Club may employ the services of Scotland-based Galashiels’ centre Gerald Sibanda who was part of their training sessions this week in preparations of the derby, Manyere did not pre-empty on whether Sibanda will be used in tomorrow’s match, but he does feel the he will be a valuable addition to the team.
Dragons coach Grant Mitchell had previously told The Herald that the technical aspects of rugby at this definitive stage of the league have been taken care of and the state his charges’ mental strength will determine whether they will remove Sportivo from its high horse.
HSC are under pressure to defend the title and their status in the NRL.
“There is a lot of pressure, we are the defending champions and everyone wants to beat us and I always tell the players that before we prepare for every game, if we get into each game realising this then it will help us be aware, cool, calm and collected especially on Saturday.”
“OGs have home advantage, but I am not too worried about that because I think we are good enough players to overcome that,” said Manyere.
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