Sundaymail Editor
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
IT IS almost easy to forget the existence of a third party in the tussle between Zimbabwe and Tunisia for a berth at next year’s 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
The suspension of the Ghana Rugby Football Union has left Burkina Faso as the third team in Group D of next month’s Rugby Africa Cup.
Burkina Faso earned the third and final slot in the 2021 competition after emerging winners of the Rugby Africa Cup Repechage tournament, which they hosted.
They will now join Zimbabwe and Tunisia in Pool D of the tournament pencilled in between July 9 and July 17 in Tunis.
And with a ticket to next year’s final round of qualifiers for the 2023 France showcase up for grabs, there is no room for error.
At least that was the message from Sables gaffer Brendan Dawson and his skipper Hilton Mudariki.
Dawson and Mudariki might not have been part of the Sables cast that endured a nightmarish visit to Tunisia, but they know all too well about it and are not keen to revisit the debacle.
On their last visit to the North African country, the Zimbabwe delegation spent a night on the streets after protesting against sub-standard rooms in the hotel they had been booked by their hosts.
“Let’s not go back to the Tunisia trip; let’s put that aside,” was the call by Dawson.
“We have trained very well and we are in a good space right now.
“Our side is looking very good right now and I am pretty sure that we will go to Tunisia and get the job done.”
While Dawson’s call looks to be on point, one can’t help but still go back to the images of the Zimbabwe rugby squad sleeping in the streets as they prepared to face the same hosts in the same competition in 2018.
It was dark day for the sport, and the continent, as Tunisia are alleged to have gone too far in their use of psychological warfare in the lead-up to their 18-14 win at Stade Mustapha Ben Jannet.
The North African hosts first delayed their southern African counterparts at the airport, with the Sables camp being told by authorities that they had to pay a visa fee of 20 euros (US$23) each.
Zimbabwe were then subjected to sub-standard accommodation, which in turn led them to opt to sleep on the streets in protest.
Videos of the incident went viral on social media platforms.
Both unions then traded blame, with Khaled Babbou from the Tunisia Rugby Union saying there was “no intention to destabilise our opponents”, while Zimbabwe demanded swift action from continental mother body Rugby Africa.
Thereafter, Rugby Africa and Tunisia Rugby Union issued a joint statement which partly read: ” . . . we would like to express our sincere apologies to the Sables (Zimbabwe) team and management for this unfortunate situation”, and that was it.
Mudariki said the team stands with Dawson’s call and would rather focus their attention on doing the job next month.
“I actually wasn’t there; I was not available for selection.
“However, based on my conversations with some of the guys who travelled, it wasn’t a good experience for us and we now have put that aside.
“We have had a good couple of weeks in camp and bonded really well and are looking forward to going to Tunisia,” he said.
Both Zimbabwe and Tunisia are expected to meet Burkina Faso before their own showdown, but the Sables are aware they can only underestimate the Stallions at their own peril.
Burkina Faso have already caused a major upset, beating fancied Cameroon (17-13) during the final of the Repechage tournament.
The Sables’ clash with Burkina Faso on July 13 will be the first meeting between the two sides.
And Dawson is hoping to use the next couple of days before their departure on July 4 and the opening fixture to fine-tune his homework on the opponents.
Online Reporter