adminNgoni Dapira
ZIMBABWE’s Under-16 national team manager, Crispen Mhike, has commended the junior Sables for a polished performance at the just-ended Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week rugby tournament in Cape Town, South Africa.
The U-16 side won two out of three matches at the annual tournament.
They lost 21-17 in the first encounter last week on Monday against Griquas Country Districts, but made it right the following day against Border County convincingly winning 36-3.
They walloped rivals Namibia 21-7 on the final day last Thursday. Zimbabwe and Namibia were the only invitational countries at the tournament, which is usually used to rate the level of play of junior rugby teams in South Africa along with the Craven Week currently underway this week.
Mhike, who is Hillcrest College rugby coach, said it was the first time to defeat Namibia at the tournament.
“This year we defeated Namibia for the first time at the annual tournament which shows the level of play by our Under-16 side has improved.
“Defeating Namibia places us as the second best rugby nation after South Africa at junior level.
“The score line against Namibia speaks for itself that it was a resounding victory,” said Mhike.
Further quizzed on Zimbabwe’s level of play compared to South Africa, Mhike said Zimbabwe junior rugby was still far from competing against top SA teams.
He said limited resources were the biggest challenge.
“Compared to South Africa, we are still far off. At the Grant Khomo Week, we will be playing second rated provinces, which still manage to beat us.
“In the top South African rugby powerhouse schools and junior academies they have high performance facilities and qualified directors of rugby, unlike us back home.
“Most schools make use of Old Boys or physical education teachers as coaches.
“Our level of rugby this year may have improved, but there is still a lot of room for improvement to become the continental champions,” he said.
Mhike expressed gratitude towards Old Mutual for the full-board sponsorship this year.
Old Mutual sponsored the transports and accommodation expenses for all the national junior sides, U-14, U-16 and U-18, which annually attend the Cravens Week and Grant Khomo Week invitational tournaments in South Africa.
Online Reporter