Andrew
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
TAPIWA Mafura is a lot of things to many people.
Off the rugby pitch, the 26-year-old is a linguistic marvel as he speaks no less than five languages.
In addition to being fluent in English, Shona, Ndebele, Zulu and Afrikaans, the Zimbabwe Sables fullback also speaks a handful of other languages, although not with the same proficiency.
He also fancies himself a singer and dreams of one day gracing South African Idols, or something along those lines.
However, it is on the rugby pitch where he shines brightest.
Apart from being a two-time Carling Currie Cup winner with the Cheetahs and, most recently, the Pumas, Mafura has emerged from a gruelling season in which he also starred for the Sables. He played in all but one of the Pumas maiden Currie Cup games.
“The 2021/2022 season was incredibly long but satisfying in the end.
“I was blessed to only miss one game in the regular season due to Covid-19, and did not have any serious injuries aside from a popped rib and twisting both my ankles,” he said.
“I also had to quickly adapt to being a wing even though my primary position is fullback.
“In the end, winning the Currie Cup felt very special because it was the first time the Pumas had won it, and the journey we had gone through to be champions was unreal.”
Mafura barely had time to celebrate the Currie Cup as he soon had to board a plane to France for the just-ended Rugby Africa Cup.
“I only had about a day to pop the champagne and celebrate, after which I was on the flight to Marseille to join the Sables.”
It is here that he proved his worth, emerging as one of the stars of the Zimbabwe show.
“Things didn’t go as planned in France.
“The team’s performance in the quarter-finals (against Ivory Coast) was exceptional. However, things went south against Namibia.
“We stayed in the fight for the most part but our discipline and lack of experience became our worst enemy.
“We lost that game to ourselves and that is what hurts the most.
“The last game against Algeria, we simply got dominated by their forwards and we couldn’t really punish them the way they deserved.
“Our execution and conviction on the day was poor and they managed to edge past us, which was really disappointing,” Mafura said.
Despite the Sables eventually finishing fourth, he felt the experience was one to cherish.
He has only five international caps to date, having only made his debut last year during the Stellenbosch Invitational Tournament.
“My performances were good (at the Africa Cup), and I enjoyed being the primary kicker for the team and controlling things from the back in my preferred position.
“I felt my defence and attack were both good, but there is always room for improvement.
“Overall, I truly loved the Rugby Africa Cup and being with the team.
“The bond we have as brothers and a team is genuinely great.
“I enjoyed the experience in France and honestly wish I was there longer than two weeks.” The Sables returned home last week to a welcome that lacked pomp and fanfare.
Mafura has his own opinion on what the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) need to do next. Namibia remains the country’s biggest obstacle in their plan to end their long wait for a return to the World Cup stage.
“High-level experience is what Zimbabwean players are missing in comparison to Namibian players.
“Namibia have lots of players in South Africa playing in the Currie Cup, and even more overseas playing in big leagues, so they get exposed to high-level rugby.
“As a team, we need to start building again these next four years and that starts now in November when we meet.
“We need to regroup, find solutions and make plans that will help us qualify when we get the opportunity again.”
Online Reporter