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IT’s always a sweet moment when a pair of Zoomers or GenZ, as generation goes by, get to live out a meme during one of the biggest occasions of their professional careers.
Take the duo of Edward Sigauke and Bryan Chiang, for instance.
The two were likely a bundle of nerves as the Zimbabwe Sables made the great trek to Uganda for the all-important Africa Cup tournament which kicks off this afternoon.
The two rookies must have found it all surreal in transit to the East African nation, aboard the Kenya Airways flight, as they found themselves surrounded by seasoned campaigners like Hilton Mudariki, Kudzi Mashawi Keegan Joubert and Ian Prior.
For a couple of those veterans, a couple of them have been playing international rugby for as long as the Sigauke and Chiang have been alive.
The two are the youngest of the 28-member Sables squad that will be on duty in Uganda over the next couple of days, and recently had their own “look at us! Who would have thought?” moment as they faced the media at the Nedbank send-off function held at Queen of Hearts on Wednesday night.
The meme in question was made famous by American actor Paul Rudd during the opening salvo of interview with Sean Evans of “Hot Ones” fame.
Much like in the meme, two Zimbabwe Sables rookies exchanged googly eyes as they faced the media and it was Sigauke who then went on and broke the ice.
“Let me start, I’m used to this,” said the Shark Academy backs, to his fellow Junior Sables graduate.
Of the two, Sigauke’s debut is pretty much cast in stone as Sables coach Piet Benade named the 20-year-old in his starting 15 for today’s Africa Cup quarterfinal match against Uganda.
The speed merchant will be operating centre position as opposed to his favoured wing position.
“There are no nerves here,” said Sigauke, as it pertains to his upcoming debut.
“I came into camp rather late, after having been with sevens’ side in Mauritius, but, thanks to some of the senior guys, I have managed to catch up really fast and simulate into the team well.
“I am still very young, and all I have been doing is take in as much information as I can. For the time I have been with the team, the preparations have gone on rather well and we are ready for Uganda now,” he said.
Sigauke was the personification of confidence as he revealed that he had set himself the target of scoring three tries against Uganda.
In fact, the hattrick is something he hopes to become a staple of his senior international career.
“The first thing I want to do is to start as many games as I can during this tournament (Africa Cup),” he said.
“I also believe in being a hattrick hero, and whenever I can score three tries in any game, it is a good day.
“In Uganda, I want to score, at least, three tries.
“It’s a big ask of myself, but I guess even if I don’t achieve it, in this or any other games after, I will have given enough effort to help my team get the win,” he said. Chiang, on the other hand, was named as a replacement and will start today on the bench.
However, the 20-year-old Sables forward is not too moved about it.
He prefers to soak up as much information as he can during his time in Uganda.
“It has a great experience coming from the Under-20 side to join the senior side,” said Chiang.
“I am surrounded by a lot of experienced players and they have been teaching me everything they know and I have just been soaking up the knowledge,” he said.
On the transition from the Under-20 team to the Sables, Chiang said; “it has been a very good and educative experience.
“There is a set standard that has to be met and I have set standards for myself too. It was a bit tough at first, but I have received a lot of help and finally feel like I belong.
“This has helped remove the nerves and I find myself ready to run onto the park should I be called upon against Uganda or any of the other games that will follow,” he said.
Online Reporter