Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT has been quite an eventful week for Zimbabwe rugby team captain Hilton Mudariki.
His Sables were on the spotlight just days ago, as rugby emerged one of the biggest winners at the Annual National Sports Awards.
While Zimbabwe T20 cricket skipper Sikandar Raza walked away with the night’s biggest prize, the Sportsperson of the Year, rugby had a collection of top accolades.
The Sables and their coach Piet Benade were named the Team and Coach of the Year.
Additionally, top female referee Precious Pazani was also named the Official of the Year.
These achievements have left Mudariki a very proud man.
“We are honoured to have won the Team of the Year award again,” said Mudariki.
“It’s a reflection of the hard work the players, coaches and everyone involved has put in over the past year.
“And it just motivates us to keep pushing and keep improving as a team.
“The night was also a proud moment for Zimbabwe Rugby as a whole.
“Seeing Precious Pazani and coach Benade also being recognised shows that the sport is definitely moving in the right direction and growing,” he said.
Due to varying club commitments at their bases, the Sables were not present as team on the gala night with assistant coach Ricky Chirengende and vice-captain Kudzai Mashawi attending on their behalf.
Mashawi had also been nominated for the People’s Choice category, which was won by martial artist Wilfred Mashaya.
Benade, on his part was stuck in key zoom meetings and putting the final touches to the Sables preparations for the World Rugby Nations Cup, which is just around the corner.
Benade’s men have now entered the final phase of their preparations for the Nations Cup opener against World Cup opponents, Tonga, on July 4.
The Sables will, however, have limited sparring partners between now and July 4.
This is because the Zimbabwe Rugby union Interim Management Committee have failed to secure any more compet-itive matches before the team departs for the United States on June 28.
As things stand, their only match between now and July is the highly-clash against South Africa A on June 20.
The match is scheduled to act as a curtain-raiser for the Springboks season-opener against the Barbarians at the Nelson Mandela Bay.
The ZRU also ensured that the Sables would not be starved of action as they secured two camps in South Africa for Benade and his men.
The first camp, slated for May 27-30, will be with the Blue Bulls, while the second one is scheduled for June 8-13 with the South Africa Under-20 squad.
“As players, you always want as many competitive games as possible, especially since it is the best way to build and test combinations and sharpness,” said Mudariki.
“However, we just have to make the most of every opportunity we get together before Tonga.
“The main target for the upcoming camp will be to train and play against quality opposition.
“We want to test our systems and see what’s working and what we still need to improve on.
“It remains a good opportunity to build combinations and have a look at some of the new guys in the environment.”
Mudariki underscored the significance of their clash against the South Africans.
“It will be a very important test for us.
“South Africa A remain quality opposition and a good chance for us to see where we are as a team ahead of the Nations Cup opener.
“Ideally, you would have wanted more games against sides of a similar quality, but we will have to make the most of this opportunity.” Zimbabwe are expected to depart for the first training camp next week, and Benade has since announced his travel-ling party.
Among the major talking points is the arrival of the majority of the foreign-based players.
These include the South Africa-based contingent of Godfrey Muzanargwo (Valke), Munashe Mhere (Leopards), Kyle Theron (College Rovers), Munashe Dukuswa (University of Pretoria) and winger Edward Sigauke (Emeris).
They have also been joined by the Spain-based duo of Bornwell Gwinji (Gernika Rugby Taldea) and Simba Mandioma (CP Les Abelles) while Kelvin Kanenungo (Bahrian Rugby Club) and Bryan Chaing (Brighton Park) also made the list.
Mudariki is also very pleased with the squad assembled, particularly the arrival of reinforcements from the foreign-based party.
“I think the squad selected for the Blue Bulls camp has a good balance of experience and young talent.
“There is healthy competition in the group and that’s always good because it pushes everyone to improve.
“It is also a huge boost having the foreign-based guys coming in as they bring experience from different environments and competitions, which adds a lot of value to the squad,” added Mudariki.
