adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE local rugby season is over and done with and most of the players have turned their focus on the international season that will be dominated by the Sables preparations for the 2015 World Cup qualifiers next year. Old Hararians won the league title for the first time in eight years at the weekend with a close 29-27 win over Old Georgians Sports Club at the home of the Old Boys in Milton Park.
This was a huge achievement for the Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge-coached side.
It will be no surprise if the Old Boys dominate the Sables squad for the upcoming tri-nations tour of Namibia which is also being used by Kenya and the hosts as a preparatory event for the Africa Cup.
But things have not been so good in the Sables camp. In July Zimbabwe failed to defend their title, losing it to Kenya in the final, following a standoff between players and the administration prior to departure for Madagascar.
At least 12 players were suspended from the Sables camp after expressing their reservations with Sables manager Losson Mtongwiza and most of them were dropped from the final squad.
The 12 players wrote a petition to ZRU president John Falkenberg indicating that it has become difficult working with Mtongwiza.
Former Sables captain Cleopas Makotose, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Jakov Jakov, Tichaona Chidongo, Costa Dinha, Tichafara Makwanya, Gavin Nyawata, Tino Chikobvu, Tangai Nemhadire, Gardner Nechironga, Zvikomborero Murangari, and Lungile Tshuma are the players that signed the petition.
A player crisis saw some of the players being called back into the squad and these included the Old Georgians duo of prop Jakov and winger Chiwanza. However, most of these players are the ones who powered the Old Boys to the famous league win over the weekend.
Dinha, Chikobvu, Makwanya, Chidongo, Tshuma, Nemadire, Nechironga inspired the Old Boys to that win, showing their experience and maturity and making it count when it mattered most. Nechironga and Chidongo were introduced midway in the second half as the Old Boys were trailing by more than 15 points and they brought the side back into the game.
Nechironga even added a try thanks to the good ball distribution by scrummy Chidongo while Makwanya — who ended as the top points scorer of the season — chipped in with 19 points off his boot.
It was not only about this game, but these are also the same players who drove the Old Boys to be a side they were this season, losing only one match in the 16 league games.
They beat bitter rivals Harare Sports Club both home and away, did the same against Bulawayo giants Mat’land Warriors and twice they got the better of Old Georgians.
With the Africa Cup and the World Cup just around the corner, does it mean that these players will remain in the shadows?
The ZRU should come up with a solution that does not compromise the game and, crucially, the national interests.
Online Reporter