admincomfortable at fullback, wing and centre, is expected to be part of the Sables’ technical team that already features coach Brandon Dawson, assistant Mandenge and manager Losson Mtongwiza.
Though the Zimbabwe Rugby Union officials could not confirm the appointment, The Herald has it on good ground that Trivella is set to get down to business next week when the Sables are expected to come together in preparation for their Africa Cup and Victoria Cup preparations.
Trivella made his debut for the Sables in June 1997 when he appeared in the starting XV as a winger against Italy A with Zimbabwe winning the game 52-39 and he was the top points scorer with two tries and four conversions.
With only three caps for the Sables, Trivella’s last game was in June ’98 when Zimbabwe suffered a heavy 11-49 defeat at the Police Grounds, before his departure for England where he featured for former English Premiership side Rotherham Titans.
He earned 42 appearances while 31 of them were in the starting line-up.
Rotherham won promotion to become Yorkshire’s first ever representative in the top-tier of English rugby. In the Sables, Trivella played alongside the likes of Aaron Jani, who now is the Under-20 chairman, Brandon Dawson, who is the current Sables coach, fullback and former captain Victor Olonga, John Ewing and Kennedy Tsimba.
While the Sables are yet to start preparations for their 2012 campaign in the Victoria Cup and Africa Cup, the Young Sables were handed a tough Junior World Rugby Trophy draw.
Zimbabwe Under-20 assistant coach, Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa, yesterday said the key to a better campaign this year lies in their preparations and how they were going to play their opening game against Japan in the United States.
“Preparation is key to every campaign and this year we have been doing it differently because the players started early with fitness and physical preparation, we need more and quality game time.”
Last year the Young Sables only played one game in preparation for the JWRT against a select side at the Cottco Schools rugby festival and this proved not enough for a team travelling for such a big tournament.
Their opponents were camped in Scotland where they played three games, including a win against the Scotland A side, while Argentina also camped Down South before travelling to Georgia.
And this proved a huge difference between Zimbabwe and most of the sides that were in Georgia last year.
“Key as well would be to start well against Japan, Georgia might be difficult as they have gone professional with players in English and French teams and academies but we also have players in South African academies as well.
“At the moment our own Gareth Meikle is ranked among the top 25 players at Sharks Academy and it has to be said that the South Africa clubs and Unions need to play a huge supporting role to Zimbabwe as we are sending our players to them.
“So there is need for those clubs and Unions to respect us as well when we want the players for national duty not to hold them at ransom for playing for the Springboks.
“Canada have the advantage that their players are big and physical but I would like to commend our players for also taking it upon themselves to see the need for them to grow bigger and eating right.”
At last year’s tournament, the Young Sables finished as the bottom-placed side in the eight-team competition, in 2010 they finished seventh with a win, a draw and two defeats but in 2007 they finished seventh in the then 12-team competition.
“So we need to learn from the mistakes for us to become a force to reckon with at the JWRT and qualify for the Junior World Cup.
“The Under-19 and Under-20 teams are the backbone of Zimbabwe rugby, be it the Cheetahs or the Sables,” said the former Sables coach.
Online Reporter