Junior Sables off to Kenya for World Trophy

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Under-20 national rugby team leaves for Kenya today for the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy that begins this Saturday in Nairobi.

Head coach Shaun De Souza is taking a 28-member squad for the tournament in which they join hosts Kenya, Scotland, Uruguay, USA, Spain, Samoa and Hong Kong.

De Souza has retained the bulk of players that won the Barthes Trophy in April in the same country. He has also drafted in new faces such as Martin Hakunavanhu, Takudzwa Zvomuya, Tawanda Matipano and Munotida Marimirofa.

The Junior Sables will get the ball rolling with a match against Scotland, who were relegated from World Rugby Under-20 Championship in 2019 on Saturday.

Zimbabwe and Scotland are in Pool A along with South American champions Uruguay, and USA.

Pool B has Spain, Samoa, Kenya and Hong Kong.

Junior Sables coach Shaun De Souza has retained the bulk of players who won the Barthes Trophy in Kenya in April.

Meanwhile, the Junior Sables skipper Panashe Zuze has urged students to stay away from drugs if they are serious about becoming professional sportspersons.

Zuze was speaking during the unveiling of the Under -20 national team’s four-year partnership deal with Khaya Cement and Zimbabwe Rugby Union at Direct Contact School in Mandara last Friday.

Apart from providing a kit for the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy-bound team, Khaya Cement will also meet other costs for the travelling team.

The deal will also see the parties engaging in legacy programs like the one last Friday where ZRU and their teams go into schools and communities to raise awareness about the sport and drug and substance abuse.

“I am just here to tell you to stay away from drugs if you want to go into sport no matter what sport it might be. Do sport, train, have fun, and keep yourself fit,” said Zuze.

“I started playing rugby at six years old. When I was in Primary School, I used to go to Mbare Academy a lot on Sundays in the mornings and I used to train a lot.

“My dad would force me to go but I guess I ended up loving the sport and working hard in getting better.

“Sport is for everyone, rugby is for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are big or small like me. You can be tall or short but as long as you indulge yourself and give it a try, you will enjoy more than you can actually think,” he said.

Tanaka Ndoro also chipped in and said rugby would take one to places they never imagined they would go to.

Traveling Squad:

Forwards: Gealan Jaricha, Gerry Zisengwe, Tadiwa Chinwada, Nqobile Manyara, Martin Hakunavanhu, Tanaka Gondo Mukandapi, Takudzwa Zvomuya, Huntley Masterson, Tanaka Ndoro, Leo Mutendi, Bryan Chiang, Tawananyasha, Bwanya.

Backs: Panashe Zuze, Brendan Marume, Dion Khumalo, Shadrick Mandaza, Alex Nyamunda, Benoni Nhekairo, Tanaka Chinyanga, Tawanda Matipano, Munotida Marimirofa, Brendan Jameson, Edward Sigauke, Simbarashe Kanyangarara.

Non travelling: Happias Zhou, Taona Mapani, Farai Madzima, Panashe Mugorogodi, Takunda Mudzingwa, Vincent Chimwendo.