admin
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE national 15s rugby team coach Cyprian “Super” Mandenge has revealed that he prefers the Prince Edward High School’s Jubilee Field for the Sables’ two Africa Rugby Division 1A Africa Cup contests against Kenya and Tunisia.
Zimbabwe have a date with Kenya on 13 June and will take on Tunisia on 4 July at home before they finish their commitments in the competition with an away fixture against Namibia on 15 August.
With the country’s premier venue Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo out of the question because of the expenses associated with transporting the teams from Harare, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union is understood to be looking at which venues could be utilised for the two home assignments. Harare Sports Club, Old Hararians, Police Grounds as well as the PE Jubilee Field are being considered for the two fixtures.
Speaking on the sidelines of the recently held Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival, Mandenge said his choice for the two home matches is the PE jubilee Field because of its central location which is sure to bring in the huge crowds.
“I prefer PE for the matches against Kenya and Tunisia, they have the best rugby fields at the moment, the venue is centrally located, plus they have a good carrying capacity that is going to bring in the big crowds we need. The big crowds while they bring with them pressure they give us the extra push to win,’’ said Mandenge.
The Sables coach has been holding training sessions for the Harare based players at PE every Wednesday and now plans to increase the training days as the matches draw closer. Last Wednesday, 18 players pitched up for the workout held on the Jubilee Field.
Mandenge disclosed that there are plans for the Bulawayo based players to start holding training under the guidance of coaches in the city.
The Sables coach aims to retain the bulk of the players who were part of the failed bid to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup while at the same time introducing new players into the team. He believes that any player who still wants to play for Zimbabwe is welcome to do so no matter their age.
Mandenge is gunning for a victory over Namibia and feels it is about time Zimbabwe win against teams that are ranked above them in the World Rugby global rankings.
“I have a lot of players who are hungry to beat Namibia, it is about time we start beating teams ranked above us so we can rise in the rankings,’’ said Mandenge.
On who he prefers to lead the Sables, Mandenge is keen to maintain centre Daniel Hondo, now national team coach for the national sevens rugby team as the Sables captain. Hondo was the captain for the Sables when they fell short in their quest to make it to this year’s Rugby World Cup in England with indications that he has called time on his international rugby playing career.
With Hondo still playing rugby for Harare Sports Club, Mandenge still wants him to remain the Sables skipper.
Mandenge’s planning involves qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
An assistant to Brendan Dawson for years, Mandenge was announced at the Sables head coach at the beginning of this year.
He is sure going to be under lots of pressure to continue with the great work done by Dawson who inherited a Sables team that was at its lowest back in 2007 when they were losing to teams such as Madagascar, Zambia as well as competing with the likes of Botswana to being the third best rugby playing in Africa after Namibia and South Africa.
Meanwhile, Mandenge and national Under-20 head coach Brendon Brider yesterday completed the first stage of the World Rugby Level 3 coaching certification process in Marcoussis, France. The course, attended by eight better African rugby unions in Africa will allow the coaches to reach a World Rugby Level 3 when they complete the whole procedure.
Online Reporter