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Latwell Nyangu
Rugby player, Valentine Jailos, is excited after he was called for the national team due to hard work and patience after missing the opportunity many times.
Jailos is part of the Zimbabwe 7’s who are camped in South Africa for the Klerksdop 7’s Tournament.
“I was selected for the Zimbabwe 7’s Rugby national team.
“Playing for the Zimbabwe 7’s national team is everyone’s dream no lie.
“I first received a call to train with the national team in 2022 but there was too much competition since there were too many foreign-based players.
“I played one tournament in 2022 only after that I was just training with the team but never got a chance as it was tough.
“But one of the days, I felt like giving up but my friends encouraged me to keep on pushing, you know the pain if you are playing the same team with your friends and in that group, you are the only one who’s not going but I kept on fighting.
“This year God saw my hard work, patience, and consistency and I finally made it in the squad,” said Jailos.
He grew up in Mbare where he started playing rugby at the age of 6.
“I started playing rugby at the age of 6.
“In Mbare there was Mbare Junior Rugby Academy which was led by coach Victor Pekani and Milton Lanken.
“So rugby contributed so much to my life to the extent that my parents did not pay school fees for me due to scholarships.
“It was fortunate that I started getting scholarships at primary level until I finished my A’ Level.
“So, when I was in O’ Level, I was selected to play for Harare Sports Club in 2017.
“By that time it wasn’t easy for a schoolboy player to play on club level.”
Confirmed final team
Tapiwa Malenga (c)
Vuyani Dhlomo
Kuda Nyamakura
Tanaka Ndoro
Tadiwa Unganai
Emmanuel Zangari
Carlos Matematema
Nigel Tinarwo
Trevor Gurwe
Kholwani Moyo
Gamu Nekati
Valentine Jailos
Technical
Fortune Chipendu
Taff Mhende
Sylvester Chikwatira
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