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Tinashe Kusema
PROTESTS in Kenya’s major cities against tax hikes and high living costs are expected to subside amid the continued heavy police presence after several people were reported shot in clashes between security forces and demonstrators.
At least 300 people have allegedly been arrested since planned protests began on Wednesday, and the good thing to come out of all this is that Zimbabwe’s Under-20 side, in Nairobi for the Junior World Trophy, are safe and well taken care of.
The bad thing though is that it has affected their preparations for matches, and could hinder their plans for the tie against the United States.
This is a match that is expected to have huge play-off implications for coach Shaun De Souza and his charges.
“Our itinerary is a bit of a mixed bag at the moment, nothing is carved in stone as there have been a couple of riots around Nairobi and we have been under some serious security detail,” said De Souza.
“The military and police have been looking after the teams. We have managed to get some training under our belt but we were under serious surveillance during that session and even the game against Uruguay.
“The boys are protected and they are safe, and nothing has hindered our sessions or the games.
“We just wait to get clearance to do whatever we want to do, and once that comes we action it,” he said.
De Souza has, however, refused to use this as an excuse for their defeats, the last coming courtesy of a 51-14 hiding at the hands of Uruguay.
A combination of complacency and an overall lack of discipline saw the Junior Sables dumped out of contention for promotion to the World Championships on Thursday. Yet it was Zimbabwe who got off to a bright start as tries from eighthman Shingi Manyarara and Edward Sigauke gave them an early 14-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes of the game.
Junior Sables fullback Benoni Nhekairo converted both tries.
However, indiscipline then reigned as Zimbabwe gave away two penalty tries and saw as many as three players yellow-carded.
These included replacement Gerry Zisengwe, Leo Mutendi and Sigauke.
The trio spent 10 separate minutes in the sin bin for varying offences.
Uruguay resultantly punished Zimbabwe with tries from Jeronimo Noseda, Dante Soto, Guillermo Juan Storace, and Aifonso Chahnazaroff.
Uruguay flyhalf Juan Bautista Crisci chipped in with three conversions and penalties, while fullback Icaro Amarillo added another conversion and penalty
“Things didn’t go according to plan, I think we had really put in the work to beat Uruguay and for a while, everything went well for us.
“I think the boys then got complacent after which Uruguay surprised us, came back and started putting points on the board.
“Going into the break 17-14, we definitely had a plan for the second half but we, unfortunately, did not have the legs to follow through.
“It is what it is, now we move on and try to prepare for the US,” he said.
The two defeats mean that Zimbabwe are out of the running for promotion and now play the United States of America on Tuesday.
The winner of that match will then go on to play the fourth and fifth-place playoff game, while the loser is relegated to the unfancied seventh and eighth-place playoff game against the opponents from the other group.
Online Reporter