Mavesere’s Sharks win Currie Cup in South Africa

ZIMBABWE rugby international Tinotenda Mavesere has secured yet another trophy for his cabinet with the Hollywoodbets Sharks after they won the 2024 Currie Cup on Saturday evening at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The 25-year-old Sables loose forward was in the 23-man match-day squad that secured a dramatic final win over the ADT Fidelity Lions in their stomping ground. The Sharks converted a last-gasp penalty to register a 16-14 win and be crowned champions of South Africa’s premier club competition.

It was yet another silverware in the bag for the highly rated Zimbabwean prodigy having been a part of the Sharks team that won the EPCR Challenge Cup in May.

It has been a great past few months for Mavesere who has won the EPCR Challenge Cup, Africa Cup, and the latest Currie Cup, all in a space of four months.

With the night turning out to be a memorable one for Mavesere, it was, however, one to forget for his Sables teammate Tapiwa Mafura who was in the Lions’ starting XV. The Zimbabwean fullback was playing in his third consecutive Currie Cup final with three different teams.

Mafura looked set to win his third Currie Cup on the trot before Sharks’ Jordan Hendrikse kicked a last-gasp 59-metre penalty to clinch a 16-14 win. Before the monstrous kicks, the Lions were leading 14-13.
Hendrikse’s kick was going to be the last act of the game, with his new team trailing 14-13, and had he been short or wide, the Lions were going to be the winners and the Sharks the losers.

Sharks head coach John Plumtree said it was a special moment for his side to have managed to claim the coveted trophy.

“I’m really proud of the boys. It’s great for our confidence and the never-give-up attitude we’re instilling in the team. The URC is the main goal, the Champions Cup and getting all the Springboks players back together, but for this group of players it’s important to win the Currie Cup, not just the players that played tonight but the players that played through the first six, seven rounds and the management team.

“I think it is unique, it makes it special that we have won tonight for a lot of people. The ex-players sent me messages, and they were excited, there are a lot of people back in Durban who will be very happy tonight so reflecting on that, it is important. A trophy like that is beautiful, I did not think I would ever hold it again,” said Plumtree.

Next up for Mavesere and the Sharks is the Vodacom United Rugby Championship which gets underway this weekend. – @brandon_malvin