Mat’land rugby for South Africa

Senior Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND Rugby Football Board Under-21 players are on the brink of getting a lifetime opportunity, as they will tour South Africa for a series of games against that country’s rugby powerhouses next month.
Sean Robinson, MRFB vice-chairman and Matabeleland Under-21 manager announced a 28-member squad that will be coached by Rueben Kumpasa and will before their tour of South Africa take on their Northern Region counterparts at the Powersales Rugby Festival on April 12.

The players have been drawn from Busters, Old Miltonians, Western Panthers, Bulldogs, Gweru, Zvishavane and local schools.

“We have been in touch with the guys in South Africa and they said they want us to visit during the school holidays. We will play three games there in Rustenburg against Limpopo Blue Bulls and the North West Select. Efforts are being made to make sure that the team also plays in Botswana and Namibia but we are still waiting for those countries to respond to our request.

“The other reason for the tour is to give youngsters an opportunity to market themselves and also get to feel how it is like playing a competitive international game,” Robinson said.

He said two players are likely to play for the Limpopo Blue Bulls Academy during the tour and if they impress they might remain in South Africa.

Durban-based Sables fringe winger Biselele Tshamala is a beneficiary of a similar tour having received a scholarship after touring that country in 2011 with Matabeleland Under-21s.

Some of the local players expected to fight for places in the team are Justin Mendelssohn, Irvin “Bhuda” Nduwa, Andrea Banda and Mkhululi Ndlela.

Meanwhile, Robinson said Matabeleland Legends have sourced travelling and playing kit for the Under-21s, with an unidentified businessman providing a tourist overland vehicle which the team will use for the tour.

Under-21 squad
Irvine Nduwa, Bastien Mendelssohn, Terrence Ncube, Brendon Salanje, Hillary Nyoni, Sheunesu Maphosa, Takunda Katsukunya, Vincent Park, Mkhululi Ndlela, Andile Mathema, Justin Mendelssohn, Kudakwashe Nyakuyaringwa, Dlelo Velempini, Tarro G Kwashe, Shaun Motsi, Andrea Banda, Brent Nurden, Tarisai Mugariri, Walter Gonde, Anthony Foti, Marvin Mwabasa, Enrique Ndlovu, Roberto Ndlela, Muziwethu Tankwa, Thabani Mhlanga, Aaron Sawu, Howard Zuze