Sports club, OGs in clash of titans

enemies and their rivalry runs deep.
Most of the players at OGs come from St Georges’ and St Johns’ colleges while Harare Sports Club has become the Churchill Bulldogs’ fortress and also houses old boys from other schools.
But yesterday the two sides showed they can agree on something – that today’s game will have a huge impact on the championship race.
Sports Club and Old Georgians, their spirits boosted by confirmation of the Lion Lager sponsorship, clash at 4pm in the main game of the season opening day.
Both giants as well as the rest of the national league teams were yesterday handed their branded their branded Lion Lager kits which set the stage for a refreshing sight at the various rugby venues that will host the weekend matches.
Old Georgians won last year’s title after beating the Red Lions on the final day of the championship at Sports Club and today’s game has brought a lot of bad memories for Sports Club who are aiming to turn the tables.
It was a painful defeat for Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge’s side as the game was decided in the late stages of injury time when Justin Coles clinched the winner for OGs (then District Dragons).
However, Sports Club’s defeat at the hands of the OGs is still fresh in the minds of forward Shingi Mpofu who believes they are prepared to turn the tables when the two sides clash for the game this afternoon.
The Sables player feels his side is well prepared for the encounter that every rugby fan in the capital is looking forward to.
“Our target is to get our game plan working first and if we are able to do that then we will have a have a good game as we aim to win.
“They beat us in the final last year but we did not rest as we have been preparing for the league all along.
“I am sure we should have a good game considering the way we played in the final last year.
“As we go into this game we are, of course, looking for nothing short of a win but we might face a challenge in the forwards as most of their players were involved in the Sevens Series and also went to Hong Kong for the Sevens,” said Mpofu.
OGs captain Jacques Leitao, Fortune Chipendo and loose forward Njabulo Ndlovu were part of the Cheetahs side that was in Hong Kong last week and were also playing in the Spar Sevens pre-season series.
Chipendo, however, knows the danger posed by Sports Club and the challenge his rivals are likely to present in front of them.
“It’s going to be a hard game, being the first of the season, and we don’t know what to expect but all the same we are prepared and looking forward to the game.
“Sports Club have always been a good team and we can’t take anything away from them.
“But what we know is that Sports Club are beatable, yes they are a tough side but we are able to pull a win from them.
“This game will definitely set the target for the games to come,” said Chipendo.
Leitao knows what losing or wining such a game means.
“A defeat in this game would have a negative psychological impact for whoever is going to lose and so no one would like to lose such a game.
“Of course, there is a long way to go where you can catch up but there some clubs that can cause upsets.
“Sports Club have always given us a tight one and I think we have to look forward to a close one.
“We have to defend our title and we have to look forward to the challenge,” said Leitao.
Both sides have a number new players in their ranks with some of Sports Clubs’ players having come from their second string side while Old Georgians have lost the services of veteran forwards Prayer Chitenderu and Costa Dinha.
“There is always pressure (to defend the title) and that we have new players, and new people, in our side means that we are also going to get new ideas and renewed life, so to speak,” added Leitao.
Fixtures
A-League: Old Hararians v Old Miltonians (Sports Club 2.20pm), Mutare v Panthers (Mutare 3pm), Busters v Airforce (Hartsfield 4pm), Harare Sports Club v Old Georgians (Sports Club 4.10pm).
B-League: Mabvuku v Swallows (Sports Club 9.30am), Police v Southern City (Sports Club 11am), Red Lions v Mbare (Sports Club 12.30pm), Thornhill v Panthers (Gweru 1pm), Busters v Bulldogs (Hartsfield 2pm), Gweru v Zvishavane (Gweru 3.30pm).
Women: Old Hararians v Police (Sports Club 2pm), Sports Club v Busters (Sports Club 3.30pm), Heels v Airforce (Hartsfield 3.30pm).