NEW: Tambwera on the mend 

Tinashe Kusema 

LENIENCE TAMBWERA has a message for those ready to write the epitaph on his rugby career. 

The 29-year-old has been the subject of much talk over the last year or so, especially as the Zimbabwe Sables set out to qualify for the 2023 World Cup in France. 

During that time, one of the hot topics within the rugby fraternity has been on the fly-half position where Brendan Dawson has tried out a variety of options, but none have stuck. 

Among them are the likes of Dudlee White-Sharpley, Riaan O’ Neil, Keith Chiwara and even Brendan Mandivenga. 

None of them seem to have put a stamp on the position, leaving United States-based Old Glory number 10 Jason Robertson as the country’s last hope. 

While nothing has been confirmed yet, Robertson could be one of the fresh faces expected to travel to France for the Africa Cup tournament this year will double as the World Cup final qualifier.  

Missing from the debate, however, is Tambwera who has been sidelined due to injury and has not been seen near a rugby pitch for a long while. 

His absence, as it turns out, has been intentional rather than coincidental. 

The Sunday Mail Sports caught up with the Harare Sports Club man in only his second appearance at a rugby encounter during last weekend’s Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup. 

There, he opened up on his injury, rehabilitation and even waded into the debate on the supposed ‘fly-half crisis’ in the national team. 

“Yeah, I haven’t been available for the longest time, and that has been more intentional rather than coincidental. 

“The main reason for this prolonged absence was mainly due to the injury and it was just too painful to come to watch rugby games while I’m on crutches and unable to compete. 

“It’s not something that I am good at, especially being fully aware that I am still good enough to be part of the team. 

“It is against this background that I decided to sit out all rugby games, and concentrate on my work,” Tambwera said. 

While he seems to be getting and off the crutches now, Tambwera still finds it difficult to erase the memories of the mishap, which occurred at Donnybrook while riding a motorbike. 

“LT”, as he is affectionately known within rugby circles, is an avid rider and actually believes he could have had a career on the circuit. 

“I am an avid biker, it’s one of my passions. 

“If I had the sponsorship when I was still in high school, I could have been on the circuit by now. 

“Right now, I am a member of the Titanium Motorcycle Club Zimbabwe and was with my teammates when the accident occurred. 

“It should have been around Easter, last year, and we went to Donnybrook for practice. 

“I forgot my protective gear and didn’t think I would do much racing. 

“It so happened that I ended up being on a bike, with nothing but a jacket and a helmet, and got carried away. 

“On the last lap of the day, I failed to negotiate a curve and crashed after which I injured my knee, ankles and hands,” he said. 

He can, however, thank God that there were no fractures after the accident, which enabled him to begin treatment and rehab. 

His plight was worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic as he often found himself sidelined for patients with either the virus or suspected. 

The rehabilitation process has been long and hard, with the Zimbabwe international taking it one day at a time. 

While unable to walk without the aid of crutches at first, Tambwera is better now and finds it easier to go and watch matches. 

While he battles for recovery, the Sables have intensified their audacious bid to qualify for the World Cup. 

The progress, which the senior team have made under Dawson, has charmed Tambwera. 

He is also happy with the arrival of Nedbank who have come in as the main sponsors of the team. 

The Zimbabwe international has, however, poured cold water on any talk of a “fly-half crisis” in the Sables. 

For him the solution lies in the team getting more time to gel as a unit. 

“I have been in touch with some of the current Sables players, as well as some of my former teammates, and we have a pretty good team. 

“I am happy that Nedbank have come in to help, and I fully understand the kind of impact that a sponsor like this can have on a team. 

“It (sponsorship) goes a long way into ensuring that the players concentrate on practice and playing rugby. 

“Morale is high in the team right now. 

“As far as the whole fly-half debate, there is no crisis there. They just haven’t gelled yet. 

“You cannot compare the current squad to the time guys like Tichafara Makwanya and I played, there is a huge difference there. 

“These guys are mostly new to the set-up and don’t really have enough game time to know each other well,” he said. 

“This is opposed to our time, where the squad played each other and together often. 

“Our group was together for a longer time, and we knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. 

“This is what is missing in the team, and all they need is more time,” he said.