Sundaymail Editor
Tinashe Kusema
Zimbabwe… (24) 31
Zambia (0) 8
BRENDAN Dawson believes the Sables still have some way to go before they can consider themselves ready for the Africa Cup, with match fitness top of the agenda.
The Sables gaffer made the observation as his team finally got back into action after more than a year of inactivity due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Although one would easily be flattered by the big 31-8 winning margin, Dawson, speaking after Wednesday’s match at Harare Sports Club’s Machinery Exchange stadium, insisted the Sables were still far from being the genuine article.
It was a performance devoid of the flair, given the amount of investment and time ploughed into the build-up, but that is likely going to be chalked up to the fact that it was first match in nearly two-years.
A little rust, here and there, and a few sore limbs by the end were to be expected.
The Sables started the game well enough, racing to a 24-0 lead at half-time but slowly fizzled out in the second period.
Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, Aiden Burnett, Doug Juszczyk and Tonderai Chiwambutsa all touched down for the home side during that blistering start.
Scrumhalf and skipper Hilton Mudariki chipped in with two conversions.
However, any hopes of a runaway victory slowly, but surely, faded as the game wore one.
The second half was uneventful.
Only New Zealand-based prop Juszczyk scored a try, in that dry second half for Zimbabwe completing a brace during on his Sables debut.
Mudariki made sure with the boot, adding his third conversion.
Instead, Zambia managed to bring some cheer to their traveling fans- mostly made up of their Under-23 and women’s sides, as fullback Jubilee Chisenga scored his team’s only try of the game, which was however not converted.
That try came in the 76th minute, with David Koloko scoring a penalty a few minutes later.
“It’s really great to win, and 31-8 is a comfortable score line,” said Dawson.
“However, we are not really happy with how it all went down, and we have a hell lot of work to do before we play Tunisia (in the Africa Cup).
“Match fitness is obviously not up to scratch, because we haven’t played in two years.
“Everyone performed well, and gave it 110 percent, but match fitness is something we have to really work on.
“We started off really nicely.
“In the first 20 minutes we had some nice shape, and some very nice patterns, and things were looking good for us.
“We were dominating, even though the scoreline didn’t really reflect as much, but it was those final passes that were not going to hand.
“Going forward, it’s those few areas that we have to rectify.
“We have to come back stronger and just make sure we get more clinical in those areas,” Dawson said.
Online Reporter