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Tinashe Kusema, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE was a time when Tinashe Hombiro was deemed the heir apparent to the number 10 jersey for the Zimbabwe rugby Sables, offering the answers to the country’s flyhalf woes.
At only the age 19, the former Prince Edward flyhalf and skipper was called up into the Zimbabwe Sables training squad ahead of trips to Zambia and Kenya.
The then Sables gaffer Peter De Villiers, had decided to give the teenage prodigy a chance to prove himself as the veteran coach eyed qualification for the 2019 and possibly 2023, Rugby World Cup finals.
However, Hombiro never arrived to the grand stage as a Sables cap did not come to fruition.
The COVID-19 pandemic then hit global sport forcing it into a hiatus.
Hombiro also later suffered a series of injuries, one of which many believed to be a career-ending one.
In the Sables dressing room, De Villiers did not last long as he parted ways with the Zimbabwe Rugby Union.
“I think it was around about 2020, before I went to False Bay, during which I suffered an ankle injury while practicing with the Zimbabwe Under-20 team.
“I actually proceeded to go to South Africa (False Bay) with that injury, hoping to play, but it actually worsened.
“The Covid-19 pandemic then hit and that gave me time to rest and heal.
“I was seeing a physiotherapist while in South Africa and that helped me a lot.
“I think I had a layoff of about a year as it took some time for my ankle to regain movement,” Hombiro recalls.
The failed Sables experiment seemed like an omen of more bad things to come as Hombiro lost his confidence, failed to move to the United States for school and incurred yet another injury.
“After the pandemic, I could have returned, but the time on the sidelines made me lose my confidence and so I decided to take more time off.
“I was supposed to go to the States for school, but that move fell through and I then decided to extend my time away from the sport as I was not fully ready yet mentally.
“Last year, I tried to make a return but then fractured my finger, while training for OH (Old Hararians),” he said.
Fortunately, that is now all in the past as Hombiro has resurfaced, albeit with a bang.
The 25-year-old turned some Man of the Match performances for Old Boys during the first round of the Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup matches.
There was a sense of urgency to the flyhalf as he helped lead his star-studded Old Hararians to a convincing 31-8 victory over Matabeleland province.
It was that victory that helped Old Boys secure a semi-final berth.
In fact, that win set them for a potentially mouth-watering clash this morning against the national Under-20 side at Harare Sports Club.
Pitbulls and defending champions Harare Sports Club face off in the other semi-final clash. The winners of both matches will then proceed to the final.
However, most eyes are sure to be fixed on Hombiro, after all, the 25-year-old has been through quite the ringer over the last five or six years.
Top of the list is the fall under the weight of expectations the country’s rugby community put on his shoulders.
He also had to deal with a slew of bad luck and ill-timed injuries.
Still, Hombiro remained, right up to the day, defiant.
“The Sables’ dream is still very much alive,” he boldly declared.
“I am a man of faith and I know everything happens in God’s time.
“That is how I dealt with and will continue to deal with the adversities.
“I know there were a lot of expectations, I heard the talk and the whispers, it is unfortunate that I did not get the chance to fulfil or live up to the promise.
“However, I am back, fit again and have set myself the target of finally playing for the Sables sooner rather than later”.
With Sables coach Piet Benade and the crew of national selectors closely watching the Nedbank matches, Hombiro knows he has big chance to stake a claim in the senior side again.
After all Benade and his national team assistant Tichafara Makwanya are also the Old Boys club coaches although the latter is presiding over the club in the Nedbank tourney.
Aiding him in his quest is a talent-laden Old Boys outfit that includes a huge chunk of the Zimbabwe Sables squad.
Among them are the likes of skipper Hilton Mudariki, Aiden Burnett, Brian Makamure, David Makamba, Jeff Makoni, Tonderai Chiwambutsa, Dion Khumalo and Darrell Makwasha.
The presence of all these big names has not been lost on Hombiro, and neither is he intimidated.
“This is not my first time being around so many big names, remember I was invited to the Sables training camp when I was still just 19 years old,” he said.
“I have been learning a lot and absorbing as much data and advice as possible.
“When you have Aiden (Burnett) at number eight, Hilton at nine and you are at 10, you can’t ask for more,” he said.
Makwanya spoke of Hombiro’s steady progress since his return.
“He has travelled quite a difficult path.
“Hombiro started as a huge prospect and full of so much promise but unfortunately, things did not pan out the way he might have wanted.
“He went MIA (Missing In Action) and I remember sending so many texts that he didn’t reply.
“I only talked to him when he came back last year and have been impressed ever since.
“He is putting in the work, looks hungrier than before, and is very much self-motivated.
“There are still areas that he needs to work on, but I am confident he will get there.
“Hopefully, a Sables call-up will come sooner rather than later and when it comes, he should grab the opportunity with both hands,” Makwanya said.
Online Reporter
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