Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOR many, the sight of a young Kenyan rugby outfit celebrating their Barthes Trophy win a little too animatedly in front of the Zimbabwe home fans still lingers in the back of their minds.
The year was 2024, and Zimbabwe were on the cusp of a hat-trick of Barthes Trophy titles after back-to-back triumphs in 2022 and 2023, ironically, in Kenya.
The fact that they were hosting the competition only heightened expectations, with the Zimbabwe Under-20 side expected to be crowned at home and make history.
But those ambitions were wrecked by Kenya, who were more clinical in claiming a 28-13 triumph in the final at Harare Sports Club.
What followed, after the final whistle, was five minutes of wild and exaggerated celebration from the Kenyan teenagers, who had exorcised a two-year agony of Zimbabwean dominance.
Kenya then completed their redemption arc last year when they, yet again, beat Zimbabwe 21-20 at home.
Unfortunately, this time, they failed to clinch the competition as Namibia finished the round-robin tournament undefeated to be crowned champions.
Now, the two teams that appear to have been intertwined for the last couple of years meet again as the Barthes Trophy kicks off in Uganda this morning.
This year’s championship, slated for August 7-15, has introduced a revamped competition format designed to strengthen age-grade rugby across the continent by providing teams with more competitive fixtures and creating a clearer development pathway for emerging rugby nations.
The tournament has been split into two tiers, starting with the Performance Division, which will feature Zimbabwe, defending champions Namibia, Kenya, and Tunisia.
Hosts Uganda, Zambia, and Madagascar will compete in the First Division.
The revised structure means every game carries significant importance, with little margin for error.
The main competition will kick off this morning, at the semi-final stage, with Namibia playing Tunisia first and then Zimbabwe and Kenya rekindling their rivalry in the second match of the day.
Zimbabwe and Kenya are totally different outfits from the 2024 edition, but Junior Sables coach Shaun De Souza has acknowledged that a little payback is overdue.
“We were definitely on a high trajectory back in 2024, and our hearts were broken when we lost that final and failed to go to the Junior World Trophy in Scotland,” said De Souza.
“We will definitely have to work hard to redeem ourselves, but we can only do that by winning the trophy back.
Zimbabwe captain, Takudzwa Matsvimbo, however, is singing a totally different tune heading into today’s match.
Matsvimbo is on his last tour with the Junior Sables and wants to ride off on a high.
Currently studying at Stellenbosch University, the former Lomagundi College student already has ambitions of graduating into the Sables.
However, before that, Matsvimbo has one more item to check off his bucket list, and that is a Barthes Trophy title.
He was part of last year’s disastrous campaign and wants to atone for that.
And he believes that the current team has what it takes to get the job done.
“I’m very confident in the preparations that we have put in over the last couple of months,” said Matsvimbo.
“A lot of the boys have learnt a lot and gained a lot of experience.
“The coach picked the right men for the job.
“We know what everyone is capable of, and I trust everyone on this squad,” he said.
Zimbabwe arrived in Uganda on Wednesday, with the team going through their captain’s run yesterday.
“The team we went with on the Abu Dhabi tour last December, and the team we are now are completely different outfits.
The forwards unit features Daudi Jabita, Jacktone Olali, Mike Muriithi, Innocent Indeche, Jibril Joseph, Justine Ng’ombe, Chelsese Otieno, Thomas Odhiambo, Aldrine Misiomi, Jaden Paul, Randy Otuoma, Maxwell Kipsang, Joshua Monoo, John Ombango, and Derrick Osano.
The backs include Michael Olukusi, Rohan Neel, Jackson Siketi, Rayvon Ambale, Dennis Ndayala, Matrix Matangi, Abdul Zubeir, Loren Nyamolo, Wayne Otieno, Faran Juma, Brian Kiptanui, Monda Tsuyoshi, and Ezekiel Ray.
