Old Hararians ready

The Old Boys have a new technical team for this season after Sables assistant coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge took over the reigns from former Sables forward Max Madziva at the beginning of the year.

In crossing the great divide from Sportivo to bitter rivals Old Hararians, Mandenge also took with him assistant coach Derek Chiwara, Samson Makuku and prop Raymond Dzvairo while Cheetahs utility Gardner Nechironga added weight from Germany.

In the build-up to the season, the Old Boys played two friendly games with Zambian side Lusaka Powerhouse and last week they got the better of Gweru Sports Club but Mandenge feels there is not much to read from the warm up match.

Old Boys travelled to Gweru over the weekend where they came out 82-7 winners over the Midlands side but they lost a number of players to injury with their backline the most affected where at least four players were injured.

“We cannot read much into the way we played against Gweru as there were more negatives than positives because we lost a number of our players so we are going to start the season with an almost depleted squad.

“Unfortunately most of the injured players were in the backline and we have lost the centre duo of Leroy Mashiri and Gavin Nyawata, we have also lost Muhambi and Chris Tutani while scrumhalf Taku Chakaengesu also suffered a shoulder injury.
“So with this we will have to fit in some of the boys who have just come from school and it is going to be a challenge for us but I am looking forward to it,” said the former Harare Sports Club coach.

In the forwards, Mandege said, eighthman Takunda Chifokoyo also suffered a knee injury and will be out for a lengthy period.
“But I am happy that the players are beginning to get used to each other and these two games have helped us in that we managed to get some game time, we saw our weaknesses and there was a lot of bonding on the part of the players.

“We all know that bad habits die hard and that was the case with the players because they are used to a certain way of playing their game. However there are certain areas of play that we need to change or are trying to get rid of,” said Mandenge.

However, Mandenge maintained that  they would not take OMs lightly as they are one of the clubs that have had good pre-season preparations.
The Old Boys’ coach reckoned that OM’s strong pre-season preparations would stand the Elephants in good stead for the championship marathon.

“They have played more games than us because we have only played two games and they have been involved in a tournament in Zvishavane among others and that puts them in a better shape than us.

“We surely cannot run away from the fact that we need as many pre-season games as possible and that is something we have been crying for so that when the team plays in the first weeks of the season they will be fit.

“We definitely have to take them more seriously because of such factors as they are probably fitter than us, but we will have to take each game as it comes if we are to be more successful,” said Mandenge.

Defending champions Harare Sports Club who beat Bulawayo giants Matabeleland Warriors in the final last year have retained the bulk of their players and captain Daniel Hondo will lead the Sportivo attack.

Sports Club have had a vibrant junior policy that has seen them regain dominance in the league and have also retained coach Nsikelelo “Sykes” Sibanda.
Former team manager Blessing “Bhuru” Chiutare comes in as assistant coach together with Hondo while Shupikai Zingapeta takes over as team manager.

They were the most organised side, well kitted, won all but one game the whole season and lifted the Metro Challenge Cup in the process before being crowned national champions.

They had the most vibrant junior policy that included the likes of winger Steve Hunduza, centre Shayne Makombe, fly-half Lenience Tambwera, Tolerance Zishe, flanker Sean Chigumbura.

Sportivo also had the prolific young Churchill Boys High student Simbarashe Kabatebate in their ranks.
But these young players could not have done it alone without the balance provided by the more senior and experienced players who included prop Kudakwashe Kambasha, captain Daniel Hondo, winger Tangai Nemadire, Jakov Jakov and former Sables captain Cleopas Makotose who has since joined Matabeleland Warriors.