adminThe teams will use the competition to prepare for the 2012 season that starts at the end of the month.
National Rugby League newcomers Gweru Sports Club will join Bulawayo’s Matabeleland Warriors, Western Panthers and Old Miltonians, who are in the top-flight league.
Bulldogs, Midlands State University and the host Zvishavane Bulls who are in the Mid-Mat Rugby League, will also compete tomorrow.
Tapiwa ‘Endo’ Mangezi, the Matabeleland Rugby Football Board (MRFB) chairman, said they were excited about playing in Zvishavane.
He said the clubs were finalising their season’s preparations and hoped for an exhilarating tournament.
“It is going to be a great rugby day and we expect clubs to bring their strong sides. As you are aware, we have the Mid-Mat Rugby League which has clubs from Matabeleland and Midlands. This tournament is more of a get together, presenting an opportunity for teams to polish up their act before the start of the season.
“We hope the Zvishavane community will come in their numbers to support the guys out there. Without their support it will be difficult to revive rugby in that town,” Mangezi said.
Zvishavane rugby lovers, who have been missing competitive action for some time, will also get an opportunity to mingle with some of the national team players.
Matabeleland Warriors welcome back the duo of Jafet Ndebele and Lloyd Machanjaire who missed their team’s 14-12 win over rivals Old Miltonians last weekend as they were part of the Zimbabwe Cheetahs and Goshawks squads who played in the Spar International Sevens competition in Harare.
Some of the players to watch in the star-studded Brendan Dawson-coached Matabeleland Warriors include the MRFB chairman Mangezi, promising Terrence Kuvarega, Ozy Lynx and Paul Staak who missed a number of league matches for Busters last season.
Warriors will be without Jan Ferreira who broke his arm last weekend, and the player may be on the sidelines for six months.
Former Cheetahs star Silethokuhle “Slatter” Ndlovu and Masimba Siyampinda are expected to lead a youthful Western Panthers outfit that has up-and-coming star Irvine “Bhuda” Nduwa, Knowledge Moyo, Marlvin Gomo and Tichaona Mupamadzi. All the above players were in the team that beat Old Falcon Boys 58-7 last weekend.
Western Panthers’ gaffer George “Coach Rollo” Mukorera said his boys were raring to go.
“We are always ready to play and the weekend tournament gives us an opportunity to work on our shortcomings before the season starts. We want to do better than last season in the National Rugby League so we have to work hard. The players have been training hard and they just want to go and enjoy their rugby,” said Mukorera.
Old Miltonians will pin their hopes on Percy Ncube, George Savada, Jason McKay and Terrence Sibanda.
Online Reporter