Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
HARARE City goalkeeper Ryan Harrison is keen to cap a largely fine season by helping his team retain the Chibuku Super Cup, but he knows the Sunshine Boys must first overcome one of the toughest hurdles in that quest.
That hurdle comes in the form of Highlanders in a quarter-final clash at Rufaro this afternoon.
Harrison has been phenomenal in Harare City goals, having kept 10 clean sheets in 15 starts.
The slow progress in the processing of his papers meant he had to delay his debut for the team coached by his father, Mark.
And when he finally came along in the team’s first leg clash against Herentals, he showed how much experience he has picked from his previous England flirtations.
Ryan, along with Bright Chayambuka, Gareth Madhake and Moses Muchenje are the only regular players in the team who haven’t won the Chibuku Super Cup.
The rest of the side laid their hands on the coveted trophy last season, but their seasoned goalkeeper knows the match against Bosso this afternoon will be tough, but reckons his team will win.
“It has been a new experience and I knew it was going to be a very big challenge, but so far so good,” said Harrison.
“I have kept 10 clean sheets in 15 games which I have played for Harare City since joining them. I cannot complain so far.
“We are ready to face Highlanders in the Chibuku Super Cup on Saturday (today), but we wouldn’t want to put pressure on ourselves and make promises.
“In football, you don’t have to make a lot of promises.
“You just have to challenge yourselves.
“We have to give out our best as we have done in the past. I will give everything in this game. We will have to make sure we close all the gaps and utilise our own chances.
“Surely after a good season, I personally would want to see us winning the Chibuku Super Cup. Having won the cup in the previous two seasons, obviously pressure will be on us as a team,”
He said the fact that Harare City are the defending champions of the top-flight’s only knock-out tournament makes them the team to beat.
“We are apparently the team to beat so every game we are going to play including this one against Highlanders will be very tough.
“I personally want to cap the season with some silverware hence we will have to make sure we win the game against Highlanders as we bid to win the trophy for a third straight year.
“But I know the team, having won the previous editions of the tournament have gathered enough experience to be able to retain the trophy.
“The match between Highlanders and us will be tough and I know for sure, it will take a lot of character for us to win the game.
“We just have to do the right thing at the right time and I know that way we will win the match. This is a knock-out situation and we have to be very alert. We have got a chance to progress, but they have a chance as well,”
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