Old Miltonians, Panthers clash in Zimbo U-20 Rugby Cup

Both teams go into the match with their heads high as they won their first round encounters.
Western Panthers beat Bulldogs 38-0 while Old Miltonians beat Zimbo Busters 20-5.
Old Miltonians won the Zimbo Cup in 2010 and last year they lost it to Busters.
Western Panthers coach George Mukorera said they would approach the match with caution, as their opponents were hard to beat.
“We have prepared hard for the competition but I must say Old Miltonians played well last weekend and we have to be very careful in our Saturday match. They have a good coach in Vusumuzi “Vee” Ndebele but we are ready to take them on.
“We haven’t won this competition and this year the cup should be ours. My boys understand that this is their chance to win this tournament and they know that doing well during the Zimbo Cup will enhance their chances of making it into the provincial team,” said Mukorera.
The Zimbo Cup, which runs for three weeks, is being used to select players who will represent Bulawayo for next month’s tour of South Africa where they will play Sharks Academy and another Durban club.
Biselele Tshamala, the former Busters and Zimbabwe Under-19 national team star and Bradley Takawira, are some of the players that have in the past featured in the Zimbo Cup.
The duo now turns out for a Durban-based rugby club.
Last weekend some clubs were accused of using over-aged players who played in the National Rugby League last season.
Some of the players that were at the centre of the controversy include Busters’ Dexter Mutete and Shingirai Musarurwa, Western Panthers’ Malvern Gomo, Dredford Ndlovu, Thabo Nyathi and Thandolwenkosi Ndlovu.
Mukorera said the issue has since been addressed.
“The problem is that in the past the tournament has always been reserved for Under-21s. The board saw it proper to have Under-20s so that these can form the base for future Under-21 tournaments.
“We are committed to the development of the sport and that is why we opted to give youngsters something to play for,” Mukorera said.