Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Junior Sables wrapped up their final training session on Monday, with the last piece of business being head coach Shaun De Souza naming his 34-man travelling squad for the World Schools Festival in Abu Dhabi.
Zimbabwe are sending two teams — the Junior Sables and a High-Performance team — for the annual tournament slated for December 14-20.
“Yeah, selection has been a process,” said De Souza.
“We started with an alignment camp in October, after which we had two more camps during which we selected our players.
“Some we already knew from our high-performance classes in the ‘Greatness programme’ from last year, and we knew they were going to come and continue with our pathway this year.
“We then selected from the school system, or we identified players that we thought would be good in the high-performance pathway. We also reached out to the schools and asked coaches to identify players from within their schools, which they forwarded, and they were part of those alignment camps.
“We then did assessments; we had internal scrimmages, basically trials that narrowed the squad down,” he said.
Zimbabwe are slated to take part in the main cup competition and feature two teams, namely the Junior Sables and a High-Performance team. About eight teams are expected to take part in the competition, and these include Nasinu Secondary School (Fiji), Uganda Schools Select, TSC, Saint Kentigern College (New Zealand), Paul Roos Gimnasium (South Africa), Paul Roos Gimnasium 2 (South Africa), the Junior Sables (Zimbabwe), and Zimbabwe High-Performance.
“We are generally satisfied with the guys we selected, I think it’s a very talented 34-man squad, “ said De Souza.
“Yes, there are still some players who were left behind and they will still be part of the high-performance programme.
“We have, I think, close to 70 players that are still in our high-performance system. Even on the return of the squad from Abu Dhabi, that squad will still regroup and train together.
“These guys that are going on tour will get the opportunity to express themselves and showcase what they can do. The guys left behind have an opportunity to put their hands up for selection going forward into our pre-Barthes games and Barthes tournament.
For now, De Souza has set his sights on giving the 34 players as much exposure as possible as Zimbabwe aim to return to the Junior World Trophy.
“Our main objective going into this World Schools Festival is to play against new opposition, unknown opposition,” he said.
“We are playing against England Select, Fiji Select, and New Zealand Select.
The team leaves for Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Zimbabwe squad
Takudzwa Ernest Matsvimbo (Cpt), Wayne Kuraimunashe, Ethan Fouché, Nyasha Ngwarati, Vimbiso Kasvosve, Iphile Chigiji, Mayibongwe Ncube, Rufaro Shenje, Tavonga Chirisa, Joseph Ndovorwi, Bongani Msipa, Sibusiso Sibanda, Tapiwa Zhanda, Prince Ncube, Blessed Mukuwiri, Takudzwa Wellington Cheza, Prosper Zimbango, Brendan Musekiwa, Kudzai Chenda, Tapiwa Majuru, Andrew Maringa, Masawi Tanaka Masaw, PK Manyakara, Curtis Mashonganyika, Michael Chimedza, Nasha Kandewo, Phillip Chimhaka, Den-zel Dhave, Joshua Thondhlana, Zane Elroy Sibanda, Joshua Chitehwe, Ethan Tendayi Chaponda, Donnell Muyaka, Munatsi Michael Tamuka Gutu
