adminchampionship season.
Sports Club have been in all the previous five finals.
Sportivo, though, have only managed to come out victors and in just two of the five and have lost the last two finals.
Coach Blessing “Bhuru” Chiutare is hoping for a classic showdown.
They have been the team to beat all season having lost only once in the 15 league games.
The Warriors haven’t proven easy pickings for Sports Club as they are the only side that managed to get the better of the Harare giants with a close 29-28 win in Bulawayo.
But, crucially, they have lost three of their 15 games.
In the first leg, Matabeleland Warriors lost 42-25 at Harare Sports Club.
Chiutare believes this is going to be their toughest match of the season while Matland Warriors coach Rueben Kumpasa said they will take no prisoners.
“It’s the biggest game of the season and we are going into it with the attention and respect that it deserves,” said Chitaure.
“We have worked hard to correct the mistakes from our defeat against them but the Warriors are good team so we will give them the respect they deserve and they are the only team to have beaten us this season.
“They have disruptive flanks plus they have been beefing up their team with players from outside but it’s fine we will take them on.
“We set out to win this year’s title and that is what we are going to do.”
Having won two of the five finals they have played in, Chiutare feels it’s time they even up things as a win this afternoon will give his side three wins out of six final appearances.
“We have been in the last five and won two, so it’s time to make it 50 percent with a win the final.
“We have the players and our team is youthful and very local.
“It’s not going to be a walk in the park but we are geared to play to the last drop of blood.
“We just need to hit the ground running and all season long I have been saying one game at a time well now it’s the final, what we won is bagged,” said Chiutare.
On their way to the final, Matabeleland Warriors beat Old Georgians 18-17 with loose forward Biselele Tshamala proving influential with a try and penalty goal giving the Bulawayo side an edge over last year’s champions.
Sports Club cruised to a comfortable 25-6 victory over Old Hararians.
“Everyone is raring to go.
“The guys have been training hard and being a final, obviously morale in camp is high,” said Tshamala.
“We showed character when we played Old Georgians in the semi-finals and the guys want to wrap it up with a win and bring the trophy to Bulawayo.
“We know what Harare Sports Club can offer, they 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.”
Sports Club centre, young Shayne Makombe, is looking forward to lifting his first championship title at the end of this final and knows what it means wearing the Sportivo jersey at such a level.
“There is lot of pride in wearing that red and white jersey and am excited about the final.
“Matland Warriors have made the final which means they’re doing something right and as players we not underestimating their capabilities.
“We have bitter memories of our extra time losses in the last two years and I am going to put my body on the line for the team to get my first championship.
“I hope God will bless the Red Lions family.
“We have only lost one game this season to the same opponent, so it’s going to be really tough up front and in midfield where Matland Warriors will look to upset us in front of our home crowd.
“But I promise we will pay back to our faithful fans so it’s daggers drawn to till the final whistle,” said Makombe.
Some of the players who have been key in Matabeleland Warriors’ success include player/coach Kumpasa, Zvakavapano, Lynx, Dube, Tapiwa Mangezi and Percy Ncube.
Fixtures
Harare Sports Club v Mat Warriors (Final 4pm), Old Georgians v Old Hararians (3rd place play-off 1pm), Airforce v Shabanie (promotional play-off 11.30am)
Online Reporter