Andrew
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
FOR some, trying to call out the name Carlos Matematema is quite a mouthful.
Granted, it’s nowhere near the tongue-twister that is Louis Reese-Zammit, the Welsh prodigy currently on the books for Gloucester, or better still Izaiha Moore-Aiono or Mark Nawaqanitawase, the young players currently making waves in England and Super Rugby outfit Waratahs, respectively.
However, Matematema is a name many local rugby journalists, commentators and fans have been forced to become accustomed to pronouncing. The 20-year-old scrumhalf is one of the most sought-after players in age-group rugby at the moment.
Most recently, the Old Georgians forward was involved in a tug-of-war between coaches Sean De Souza (Young Sables) and Graham Kaulback (Sevens Cheetahs).
Both teams have pressing commitments on the horizon, with the Young Sables and Cheetahs expected to travel to Kenya and Uganda in that order this month.
Zimbabwe’s Under-20 side have the Barthes Trophy slated for April 9 to April 17, while the Cheetahs have the Africa Cup Sevens’ tournament in Uganda later in the month.
After De Souza named his charges for the Barthes Cup and Matematema’s name was missing, it looked like Kaulback had won.
“Missing out on the travelling squad to Kenya was more of a contractual thing rather than anything else,” said the 20-year-old.
“The Cheetahs contract did not allow me to go to the Under-20 Barthes Trophy in Kenya.
“I have made my peace with it and I have since decided to focus on the Sevens game and the Africa Cup assignment coming up,” he said. Left to his own devices, he would have put his own body through the strain of competing at the Barthes Trophy then make the short flight from Kenya to Uganda to compete at the Africa Cup.
Rugby, after all, is his life — that, and his family, too. “Rugby is everything to me.
“Away from the sport, I am a brother (to older sibling Courage), a son to a single mother (Shemiah Kabvundura) and I don’t really do much else.
“Most people would be shocked to find out that I don’t even watch football, as rugby is everything to me.”
While the last part about not watching football will probably sound like a fleeting statement, it is made even more surprising given his Mbare roots.
Football, as many will probably attest, is the staple sport in the high-density suburb.
Born November 20, 2001, Matematema spent his formative years in Mutoko, where he did his Grade One to Three at Katsukunya Primary School.
The family then relocated to Harare, settling in Mbare where the younger of the two Matematema siblings finished his primary education at Chitsere before moving to St Peter’s for his secondary education.
It was, however, in Mbare where the OGs’ scrumhalf was first introduced and then fell in love with the sport.
“Rugby has always been my first love, although I did a little handball on the side at first.
“I remember the day I was introduced to the sport and it was one of those love at first sight type of deals.
“I think it was back in 2011, and I was walking past the Number Seven ground in Mbare and I saw these kids playing rugby.
“I was taken by the physicality of what they were doing, and remember saying to myself ‘this is what I want to do for the rest of my life’.”
He asked to join and took up the sport like a fish to water.
By 2015, he had joined Mbare Bulldogs, after which he had a few stints on the Mbare and Harare Select sides.
He then caught De Souza’s eye and was taken to Prince Edward High School.
He later joined OGs and won a slew of man-of-the-match awards.
The talented rugby player now has a chance to impress for the Cheetahs.
“Camp was good and we worked around the clock in preparation for the trip to Kenya.
“I have been in and out of camp due to my commitments with the Cheetahs, but the Under-20 team is a really good and highly competitive squad.
“I was hoping to be allowed to play in the Under-20 tournament, as there is a lot of unfinished business there for me and some of the lads,” he said.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the reduction of teams at the tournament, we failed to take part in last year’s edition.
“I had been appointed co-captain together with Tatenda Makiwa due to the absence of our usual skipper Jason Makwabarara. He got injured. I was really looking forward to it.”
Rather than fret over the opposition, the former Bulldogs scrumhalf was actually looking forward to match-ups against teams like Namibia and Kenya at both the Barthes Trophy and Africa Cup Sevens tournament, respectively.
In his absence, the Young Sables still look really good, especially after an inspired performance at last month’s Nedbank Challenge Cup.
Matematema was not the only Young Sables player on demand, as Tawanda Matipano has also been included in the Goshawks’ squad for the Currie Cup tournament that kicked off yesterday.
After a gruelling training camp in Stellenbosch, Matematema is now playing with even greater conviction.
“We just came back from Stellenbosch, and it was an eye-opening experience,” he said.
“As rugby players, sometimes we look down upon ourselves and forget that we are all the same.
“We are all human.
“There is no reason why we can’t play as well and beat teams like Kenya, Namibia and any of the so-called big teams.
“The talent in Zimbabwe is ridiculous, especially those coming up, and there is a lot of self-belief in both the Cheetahs and Young Sables’ camps.
“We are not going to the Africa Cup just to make the numbers, we are going to conquer,” he said.
His interview would not be complete without the all-important question – Sevens or the 15s game?
“Rugby is rugby and I love both formats of the game.
“I love running, and that is Sevens rugby.
“Running is also another requirement of the 15s game.”
Online Reporter