adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
YOUNG SABLES committee chairman Aaron Jani believes this year’s edition of the rugby Junior Africa Cup will be bigger and better compared to previous editions of the event.The Junior Africa Cup also doubles up as the Junior World Rugby Trophy qualifier and will this year, take place in Nelspruit in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa and will also carry a new format for the JWRT qualification at the end of August.
Over the past years, the format has been such that all the teams play in a round robin format with the winner of the group making it for the JWRT but this year, each of the teams will only play two games.
Having finished as the runners-up to Namibia last year, Zimbabwe are in the same pool with Kenya, Madagascar and Namibia as they fight to bring back the glory days when they used to take part in the world tournament.
Last year, Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the JWRT after losing to Namibia in the final at Prince Edward School having made three consecutive appearances at the world tournament and also beating Namibia in each of the three tournaments.
Zimbabwe will take on Madagascar while Kenya plays Namibia in the semi-finals and the winners of each of the games will proceed to the final while the losers meet in a relegation battle.
Yesterday, Jani told The Herald that life has not been easy for his committee since they failed to qualify for the JWRT last year, but he hopes they will do well in August and bounce back into the elite league once again.
“It has not been the best time for us as well because we have not managed to retain some sponsors but we are getting along. Obviously we would have done better with more sponsorship but due to the economic environment as well, we have not had as much support as we would have liked,” said the former Sables winger.
However, the tournament is being hosted by South Africa, who do not take part in the tournament as they play in the more prestigious Junior World Cup but the Confederation of African Rugby saw it fit that the tournament be played in that country.
In the last two years, Zimbabwe had been entertaining the rest of Africa in the Junior Africa Cup as no other countries were willing to play hosts but due to logistical and financial reasons, CAR ended up moving the tournament to South Africa.
“At least now there are no fears of sub-standard accommodation as all the teams will be housed in four star hotels so the level of standards at this years’ tournament are going to be higher than what we have seen in other countries over the years.”
The Young Sables final squad is expected to be named next month, a week before they travel to South Africa and Jani has indicated they are looking forward to Nico de Villiers coming in to help with the forwards.
De Villiers is a South African strength and conditioning coach and is also a forwards coach, who last year, helped with the side’s preparations for the JWRT where they finished seventh.
“Nico will be here as well to help the side with forward coaching as well as strength and conditioning but the squad has been training every Sunday and we were waiting for schools to close so that we can trim the side.
“The reason we are going to trim the side during the school holidays is that most of the players had a lot of commitments with school and the coaches could not really have a good look at them.
“We were lucky to watch some of the players at the Craven Week and they will definitely add weight to our side as well so we are hopeful the coaches will have a good look at them during this period,” Jani said.
Young Sables Squad:
T.Muringani, G.Spapati, T.Chipadza, H.Chachona, T.Mujeni, T.Dhliwayo, C.Jaisile, P.Zvarivadza, K.Nhira, B.Scheepers, A.Mataga, M.Gazimbi, S.Roche, N.Tanyanyiwa, L.Sibanda, C.Moyo, D.Moolman , A.Senderayi, T.Gwisai, S.Mwayera, I.Nyakamadza, R.Gona, B.Mandivenga, T.Musakanda, T.Kumadiro, M.Maparura, N.Chibuwe, M.Vangue, L.Chikodzi, L.Mudzova, M.Dhlela, B.Ruzvidzo, T.Francisco, B.Mendelsohn.
Coach: Nsikelelo Sibanda
Assistant: Geoff Madhake
Manager: Blessing Chiutare
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