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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
WITH 10 days before the National Rugby League gets underway, Harare Sports Club believe they will be a force again this year despite failing to defend their title last season.
The league is expected to get underway with Sports Club opening their campaign with a date against last year’s bottom-placed side, Zvishavane Bulls, before travelling to Bulawayo for a date against Old Miltonians.

They have a bye in the third week of play.

Team manager Blessing “Bhuru” Chiutare said it’s not only about winning the league but making sure the club produces top quality players who can go on to represent the nation in any format of the game.

Over the past few years, Sports Club have risen to be one of the top feeders of the Sables and recently, in the Cheetahs squad, following the inclusion of elusive winger Stephan “Stavo” Hunduza and flyhalf Lenience Tambwera.

“Everyone wants to win the club championship and definitely that draws the players to be part of your team.  But, for us as Sports Club, we believe it has to be beyond that because we have the national teams waiting to be fed by the local clubs.

“For us it is not only about cups and trophies but we have to improve the quality of players and get them to a standard where they can represent the nation.  That is why we used to have that Under-23 side and our products speak for themselves because of likes of Sibanda, Mutamangira, Hunduza, Tambwera, Mpofu and Sibanda just but to mention a few,” said Chiutare who is also the Young Sables team manager.

Opening Fixtures

Week 1: Old Georgians v Mutare Sports Club, Harare Sports Club v Zvishavane Bulls (Harare Sports Club), Mat’land Warriors v Gweru Sports Club, Old Miltonians v Western Panther (Hartsfield Rugby Grounds). *Old Hararians bye

Week 2: Old Hararians v Western Panthers (Old Hararians), Old Miltonians v Harare Sports Club (Hartsfield), Mat’land Warriors v Mutare Sports Club, Gweru Sports Club v Zvishavane Bulls (Gweru Sports Club),  * Old Georgians bye.

Week 3: Old Miltonians v Old Hararians Mat’land Warriors v Old Georgians (Hartsfield), Mutare v Gweru (Mutare Sports Club), Zvishavane Bulls v Western Panthers (Zvishavane), *Harare Sports Club bye.