Harrison demands winning spirit
HARARE CITY coach Mark Harrison has warned his charges to apply themselves cautiously if they are to pick the maximum points against a free-scoring Black Rhinos in their rescheduled Premiership tie at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
The encounter had initially been pencilled for mid-August at the same venue, but was shelved to give way to the inauguration of President Mnangagwa, which took place at the giant facility.
Two other encounters pitting Shabanie and Highlanders as well as the high-profile Harare derby between Dynamos and CAPS United which had been deferred for the same reason will also be played this weekend whilst the rest of the Premiership teams take a break.
The derby between the army side and the municipal club is expected to be tense as both teams angle to finish the season strongly. That the pair are neither fighting for the championship nor for survival makes the tie even more potentially-thrilling, reckons Harrison.
But, Black Rhinos have been scoring for fun in their recent games, having found the target 11 times in their last three matches including a 7-0 mauling of Mutare City whilst Harare City have scored just twice in their last three games.
Harrison is particularly aware of that threat and yesterday warned his men to be disciplined against the marauding soldiers.
Although the Sunshine Boys are two places above the military men, they are only a point better than their opponents at 41 and a defeat will not be ideal for a team which is gunning for a top-eight finish.
“We have prepared well for the game against Black Rhinos and we know it will be physically demanding. Black Rhinos are a good team and we know they are a stable team which is difficult to beat,” said Harrison.
“But we just have to be disciplined and organised and earn the right to play our normal game, which is the first thing which we have to do. The fact that they are a good side makes the match quiet a battle but we have to win that battle,”
Harare City have built a profile of playing a passing brand of football although they have failed to breach a lot of their opponents having settled for draws in half of the 28 matches they have played.
The Englishman has demanded his team to come to the party and display aggression as he wants to better a goalless stalemate they posted in their first meeting with Herbert Maruwa’s men.
“We are basically a team which plays quality football and on Saturday (tomorrow), we just have to stick to our normal game plan. It will be a tough battle but all the same we will be in it to compete.
“We need to make sure that we stabilise and settle before the opponent.
“We have to be prepared once we walk out on that white line. I do believe our quality is better than what we have achieved so far this season.
“We have to be in the game right from the start and be prepared for a physical game and produce quality.
“We know we have drawn a lot of games, most of which we were supposed to win but we have to improve from that. As I have said earlier, Black Rhinos are a very good side who can beat anyone on their day so we have to be alert to the situation on Saturday,”
He hopes striker William Manondo who has been fantastic in the Chibuku Super Cup where he has already scored twice will reproduce that form to help Harare City in their bid for a strong finish.
“His (Manondo) form has been up and down in the early stages of the season but he has come into the front again thanks to the Chibuku Super Cup where he has always done well which is good for him and for the team as well.
“He needs to come in and reproduce the Chibuku Super Cup form in the league”.