adminFrom Paul Munyuki in NELSPRUIT, South Africa
YOUNG SABLES coach Nsikelelo “Sykes” Sibanda believes his Zimbabwe Under-19 rugby side were defeated by Kenya in the opening game of the Junior World Rugby Trophy qualifier on Tuesday because they did not play as a unit. The Harare Sports Club coach feels there was a lot of individual play in their 20-29 loss to Kenya and this has left them fighting to avoid relegation from the group when they take on Madagascar on Saturday.
Kenya will take on Namibia in the final after the Southern Africans emerged victors over Madagascar at the Mbombela Stadium in the second semi-final on Tuesday.
Kenya took a 10-0 lead with 13 minutes on the clock but Zimbabwe got their act together and scored 15 points to snatch a 15-10 lead going into the second half and they also added another touchdown three minutes into the second half. But it seems complacency crept into the boys’ game and they allowed the very physical and more conditioned Kenyans to crawl back into the game as Paul Murunga’s boys scored 19 unanswered points to deny Zimbabwe a berth in the final.
This was the first time in more than six years that Zimbabwe has failed to make it into the Junior Africa Cup final and this will also be the first time in as many years that Namibia will take on a different opposition in the final.
For Kenya it was a huge victory as they beat Zimbabwe for the first time at this level of competition, made it into the top two for the first time and according to Murunga, these are just results of the hard work they put in since last playing Zimbabwe.
Prior to this game, Zimbabwe had last met Kenya in last year’s opener of the same tournament that was played at Prince Edward School in Harare and the hosts struggled, only to come from behind with a late try that saw them win the scrappy game.
But on Tuesday, Zimbabwe failed to live up to their expectations as they went down to Kenya because they could not keep the ball going into contact, the forwards got tired quickly and lacked the technique at the point of breakdown.
“We played well in short flashes but we lost the ball at contact and I think it is because we lacked discipline and failed to stick to the game-plan, there was a lot of individual play,” said Sibanda.
Zimbabwe’s points came from winger Lance Chikodzi, who scored a brace of tries, centre Mkululi Ndhlela and fullback Takudzwa Kumadiro while Kenya got their points from tries by centre Kevin Ochami’s brace.
Humphrey Mulamo, Alan Odiyo and Herman Humwa all chipped in with a try apiece while the two conversions also came from Odiyo.
Online Reporter