adminPaul Munyuki Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe developmental rugby side, the Goshawks, expected to travel to Zambia next week for the Africa Cup Group 1C third tier tournament, last night held their first training session at Prince Edward School. Zimbabwe are taking part in the tournament, after the Zimbabwe Rugby Union indicated they could take up the slots left void by the withdrawal of Cameroon and Morocco in what was supposed to be a four-team tournament.
The ZRU felt the withdrawal of Cameroon and Morocco provided them with a chance to develop players with the potential of making the Sables and also as a chance to have a look at the fringe players.
Zimbabwe will take on Nigeria in their first game next week before completing their programme with a date against the hosts. Sables assistant coach, Nsikelelo “Sykes” Sibanda, will be in charge of the side.
According to ZRU general manager, Sifiso Made, who has also been appointed as the team manager, the side will also have full day training sessions on Sunday and Monday with two training sessions in the morning and afternoon on both days.
“It’s good that we have a chance to see how these young players perform when they get into a more senior and international tournament given that they are also in line to compete for places in the next Sables game against Tunisia,” said Made.
“Most of the players here have the potential to make it for the Sables but it’s also important for the coaches to have a look at them, as some of them have only been called to national team as trialists.”
This is the first time in more than a decade that Zimbabwe is sending a XVs developmental side to any tournament, a move which is good for the development of the game given the exposure the players need before entering the big stage.
The most senior player in the squad is Lucky Sithole who has several caps for the Zimbabwe Sevens side – the Cheetahs – having also played at the 2013 edition of the Sevens World Cup in Moscow, Russia.
However, it is the adaptation into the XVs game that the technical team are looking for. “We need to map the way forward in terms of XVs and the importance of Zimbabwe taking part in this tournament can’t be under-estimated because this is a key tournament, a continental tournament where national teams compete,” said Made.
“We’ve players like Taddy “Boxer” Dzandiwandira, also known as Whata, who are getting their first call-up to represent the nation at a tournament like this.
“It’s not that he’s not good enough to make it for the Sables but there’s a lot of competition and talent.”
Goshawks Training Squad
Irvine Nduwo, Admire Chiku, Gideon Muyambo, Sandile Lupuwana, David Makanda, David Makamba, Ngoni Chibuwe, Urey Maphosa, Andrea Banda, MAlvin Mapurura, McLean Muhambi, Taddy Dzandiwandira, Antipas Kamkwindo, Tinashe Gwisai, Kudakwashe Chipunza, Tawanda Chowe, Josh Mutasa, Hilton Kanandu, Simbarashe Kabetabeta, Fransisco Maneka, Osborne Muhambi, Lucky Sithole, Zweluthi Velempini.
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