HARARE - Harare Sports Club say they know all too well how one slip up in the race for the National Rugby League title can change their fortunes and will not allow their unbeaten run to get to their heads.
Sports Club are currently setting the pace atop the National Rugby League standings with 21 points from five games are the only team in the league that are yet to taste defeat.
Today, they face rivals and defending champions Old Hararians who are smarting from a 32-36 loss at the hands of Old Georgians.
That loss for the Old Boys has come against the backdrop of three wins from their opening three matches.
However, Sports Club feel they have every chance to stretch their unbeaten run and condemn the Old Boys to the second straight loss.
“The majority of players know from last year what complacency can do having won the League the previous year only to lose it last year,” Sports Club team manager Blessing Chiutare said yesterday.
“Players got relaxed so they know what is at stake,” he added.
Chiutare, however, maintained Sports Club will not be under pressure to prove a point despite suffering back to back losses to Old Hararians last season.
“We have been saying it’s a game like any other as much as it’s a derby, it’s a game like any other and we need to play at our best. Let’s build on the fact that we have not lost yet.
“It’s going to be a tough match but we are expecting to come out tops. I believe we have the experience.”
Old Hararians coach Cyprian Mandenge believes the urge to bounce back from the defeat to Old Georgians will be the major driving for behind his charges this afternoon.
“Ideally, you don’t want lose but when you lose you do an introspection and it’s a learning curve,” he told the Daily News on Friday.
“Ideally, you want to pick off where you left off and we need to start against Sports Club. Knowing Sports Club, they play exciting rugby but we also have to be at our best.”