HWANGE coach Nation Dube has urged his players to work hard in order for them to write their own piece of history when they take on Harare City in a Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-final tie at Dulibadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge on Saturday.
SUKOLUHLE Mthethwa Sports Reporter
The $130 000 prize money for the winners is at stake in the competition as well as the ticket to represent the country in the Caf Confederations Cup next year.
Dube yesterday told Southern Eye Sport that they need to get a positive result against Harare City to progress to the next round of the competition.
“The game against Harare City is going to be very tough. We need to work extra hard if we are to win the game.
“My advice to players is that they should write their own piece of history.
“Hwange last won a cup game a long time ago, so these players have a chance of changing that,” he said.
Dube said they were not looking at their league performance or that of Harare City as they go into the match.
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“League performance means nothing when you are playing in a cup game.
“This is a different ball game altogether. Teams are very unpredictable in a cup game because there is always that extra energy.
“This is a money game,” he said.
Hwange beat FC Platinum 1-0 to qualify for the next round of the competition while Harare City dismissed Monomotapa by the same scoreline to book a quarter-final slot.
Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi also conceded that it would be a very tough contest.
“Hwange have been playing well of late and are in a good form, so we expect a tough encounter.
However, our target is to progress to the next round of the Cup game.
To us it is all about team work and unity of purpose. The executive is also motivating the team.
“Last year we were booted out by FC Platinum in the first round of the competition, so we would want to work hard and win against Hwange so that we progress,” he said.
Harare City would want to write their own history by winning the Mbada Diamonds Cup, the country’s richest, which will be their first since they are only in their second year in the Premier Soccer League.
However, Highlanders, Buffaloes, Chicken Inn, Caps United, Dynamos, How Mine and Hwange would also want to have a say as they are eager to win the competition.
Both coaches said they were still assessing injured players ahead of the crucial cup game.
