adminHarare Bureau
DEFENDING National Rugby League champions Old Hararians get their season under way tomorrow where they host Bulawayo side Western Panthers. The season started last week but the Old Boys had a fixture-free weekend. “Obviously having finished as the top team last year, we would like to retain the title but first we have set ourselves a target that we have to be amongst the semi-finalists so we get a home semi and a home final,” said Cypren Mandenge.
With nine teams in the reformed league, each one of the teams will have a bye at some point and this weekend Old Georgians have a free weekend.
However, it is Old Hararians who will be tasting competitive rugby action for the first time this season at their favourite hunting ground and despite losing some key players, the Old Boys have made equally good acquisitions.
Versatile back liner Gardner Nechironga left the Old Boys camp for South Africa where he is now based in Cape Town but the return of Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, who re-joined the club from college in South Africa, and Danny Robertson’s signing are set to bolster the squad.
Robertson has been away from the game for two years but his character, talent and profile as a Sables fullback is undoubted given that he is arguably the best back-liner who has emerged from the Zimbabwe national junior teams in the last five years.
Western Panthers are going into this game on the back of a 21-15 win over city rivals Old Miltonians who they beat in the first derby of the season at Hartsfield.
But Robertson and Chitokwindo are not the only players that have made a return to the Old Boys camp as former Zimbabwe Under-20 scrummy Charles Jiji has also bounced back from England where he was at Hartpury College.
This could make Old Hararians an exciting side to watch as the trio of scrummy Jiji, winger Chitokwindo and fullback Robertson were all part of the Under-10 side that took part at the Junior World Rugby trophy tournament in Russia four years ago.
“We are taking it more seriously this year because every team in the league is not there to make up numbers but they are there for a reason so we have to respect our opposition because being the defending champions means we are the team to beat.
“We have had quite a number of warm up games getting our boys into shape but that has come at a cost because we suffered quite a number of injuries and at the same time the likes of Takunda Chifokoyo, who was out due to injury towards the end of last season, is back,” said the former Harare Sports Club coach.
Week Two Fixtures: Old Hararians v Western Panthers (3.30PM Old Hararians), Old Miltonians v HSC (3.30PM Hartsfield), Busters v Mutare Sports Club (2PM Gweru Sports Club), Gweru Sports Club v Zvishavane Bulls (3.30PM Gweru).
Online Reporter