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Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE Under-20 rugby team’s triumph over Kenya in the Barthes Trophy final last weekend was a bitter-sweet moment for one of the Junior Sables star players — Panashe Mugorogodi.
The Junior Sables powered to a 28-7 victory over the East Africans to retain the trophy.
However, Mugorogodi — the former Churchill and Chinhoyi High School learner, who played a huge part at the tournament — missed the final due to injury.
“I landed on my hip after a two-man tackle by a pair of Tunisian players during the semi-final game and had to miss out on the final,” said Mugorogodi.
“I remember I couldn’t run afterwards as I was in pain and had to be substituted.
“Watching the game from the stands, and being unable to help the team out, was even worse.”
Hope and promise
But his fledgling rugby career has been a story of hope and promise.
“From my early days as a kid, all I wanted to do was play rugby in front of huge crowds and represent my country.
“I remember walking out with the team for their warm-up before the final, looking at the huge crowd and thinking to myself that I had missed out on a big moment.
“Still, I convinced myself that I would be with them in spirit, and that helped a bit,” said the 19-year-old.
Mugorogodi featured in the team’s previous games against Cote d’Ivoire, whom they hammered 55-0, and the 66-6 semi-final victory over Tunisia.
Given that Kenya were announced hosts of the Junior World Trophy, scheduled for July 15-30, playing them in the final meant Zimbabwe had also secured a place at the global showcase.
Parental support
Qualifying for the Junior World Trophy and successfully defending the Barthes Trophy were proud moments for the Junior Sables and the nation.
Mogorogodi’s parents, Jimmy and Marjorie, could not have been any prouder of their son’s achievements.
The couple, despite their limited understanding of rugby, were among thousands of fans who followed the team’s impressive run at the Barthes Trophy.
“I did not just wait for the results but watched the games.
“I watched their two games and missed out on the last one as I was a bit busy,” said Marjorie.
“Panashe has always been a good child — reserved, obedient and a good son.
“However, seeing him make the team, do so well and win made me very proud.
“I have never been on an aeroplane and now my son has done so through rugby.
“I am as proud as a mother can be.”
Her husband, Jimmy, is now a Zimbabwe rugby fan and speaks with a lot of conviction about the game.
“No one deserved that trophy more than our boys, and they did very well in Kenya.
“I am honoured to be part of them as a parent and believed in them from that time when they were still playing the Nedbank tournament (domestic competition).
“I watched all three Zimbabwe matches, and the victory margins were off the charts.
“The boys’ teamwork is good; they are the best of the best and proved it at the Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup.
“From there, I was quite sure they were going to win all the games in Kenya.”
In the beginning, he, however, was not prepared to readily accept the path that his son had chosen.
“My son has always loved sports, and from his early childhood, we noticed that he was multi-talented.
“In primary school, he did a lot of swimming, athletics, basketball and long jump.
“I knew that one day, he was going to be somewhere with sports, but I was not sure it was rugby.’’
It was only when he was in high school that they realised he loved rugby.
Jimmy had to transfer Panashe from Churchill to Chinhoyi High School as he viewed the sport as a distraction that could affect his academic grades.
But the Junior Sables winger’s romance with the game proved to be too strong as he continued to excel in the sport in Chinhoyi.
When he eventually finished his A-Level, he fully embraced the sport.
The older Mugorogodi has since become a common presence at his son’s games.
“My parents have played a huge role in my rugby career and to get me where I am today.
“There have been a lot of on and offs for me, but, through it all, my father was there for me during the good and bad times.
“He motivated me through every disappointment and setback, when I failed to make a team, and was on hand to tell me to hang in there when I thought about quitting or that I would never get my breakthrough,” he said.
He describes his romance with rugby as a classic case of “love at first sight”.
“I started playing rugby in primary school at David Livingstone, and it was compulsory for us to take up a sporting activity.
“I tried my hand at many sports and they never seemed to fit.
“However, when I first stepped on the rugby pitch, everything clicked.
“It was love at first sight,” he said.
The speedy winger rose through the ranks fairly quickly and attracted interest from Churchill School, where he played for three years before moving to Chinhoyi High School.
He would rekindle his Bulldogs connection when he made the Pitbulls selection after finishing school.
He subsequently made it into Junior Sables coach Shaun De Souza’s team.
At the Junior World Trophy, which is now around the corner, Panashe could open the next chapter in his rugby career.
Twitter: @Nashaar
Online Reporter