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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENDING Chibuku Super Cup champions, Harare City, are ready for the battle against Triangle United at Gibbo Stadium tomorrow and have been leaving no stone unturned in their preparations.

Being a cup game, the Sunshine Boys have prepared for the worst case scenario that could see the two sides being separated by the dreaded penalty shootouts and their coach Mark Harrison has been taking the boys through the shootouts.

“We have to prepare for penalties, this is a cup game, that’s the way it is. We want to win the game in normal time but if it goes to extra time and penalties then we have to be prepared,” the nomadic Briton is quoted in the club’s official Facebook account.

The last time Harare City travelled to Triangle for a league match, it ended 1-1.

Harare City are gunning for a record third Chibuku Super Cup title having won the competition in 2015 and 2017.

But for Harrison it is not the records that are motivating his boys, but just the desire to win with the gaffer saying records mean nothing.

He is also not worried that Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro, a former City gaffer, might have inside knowledge of his charges.

“He knows all our players and we also know all his players, every coach knows all the players in Zimbabwe. I am sure the way we play now is quite different from the way he played when he was at Harare City. But we expect a very difficult game against Triangle. They are a difficult team, fourth in the league, very difficult game, no mistake about that. We beat them (Triangle) here in Harare and drew at their home in the league but this is a cup game, it is going to be difficult,” said Harrison.

He, however, expressed his reservations about the decision by the Premier Soccer League to settle for Gibbo Stadium which also happens to be Triangle United’s home ground.

“They (Harare City) know the venue inside out which is to their advantage but not only that, its also the logistics around the preparations for the match. There is no accommodation for us there which means we have to camp in Masvingo and travel on the day of the match which is about two hours’ drive. There are also no training facilities in Triangle which ruins our preparations and it’s a very difficult situation for us. I don’t think that was taken into consideration at all,” said Harrison.

Winners of the silverware will walk away with $75 000 while runners up are set to get $50 000.