admin
THE Zimbabwe senior rugby squad for the Africa Cup game against Kenya at the Police Grounds on Saturday is expected to be announced this morning at Alex Sports Club.
Coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge has not been spoilt for choice as most of the players he would have wanted to kick-start his campaign have not turned up while quite a number of the available player have injuries.
Last year, the Sables beat Kenya 28-20, but given the contrasting situations in terms of preparation and squad composition between the two sides, life is not going to be easy for Mandenge and his men.
Zimbabwe went into camp on Tuesday evening and yesterday was their first full training day at Alex Sports Club.
They were boosted by the arrival of the South Africa-based quartet of Lawrence Cleminson, Biselele Tshamala, Royal Mwale and Gavin Nyawata.
“We could not get most of the players we needed, but we have to go with what is there. Clemy, Tshamala, Mwale and Gavin Nyawata came in late on Tuesday, but we also have injuries amongst some of the players I would have wanted to have.
“Chitokwindo, T-Mak, Kingsley, Pieter Joubert and Kiwi all are injured,” said Mandenge.
Winger Tafadzwa Chitokwindo suffered an injury on national duty at the weekend during the Assupol Sevens International tournament in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Fly-half Tichafara Makwanya has had a nagging Achilles tendon injury since an Old Hararians league clash against Old Georgians two months ago.
Meanwhile, the accurate boot of Dylan Schwartz proved to be the major difference as Valke handed the Zimbabwe Unde-17 Schools rugby side their first defeat at the Grant Khomo festival at Paarl Gymnasium.
Zimbabwe’s 20-12 loss to Valke means they will have to beat Namibia in their last game if they are to come out with a better record in this year’s Youth Festival in Paarl.
Two tries from Lameck Vheriwa and a Ralph Ngonyamo converted Patrick Chivanga try were not enough to stop Valke from maintaining their unbeaten run Alden Deysel and replacement Wesley Noeth each touching down once.
But Valke flyhalf Schwartz with a penalty and a conversion in each half of the game proved to be the difference between Zimbabwe and Valke as he nailed all the spot-kicks that came his way to finish the game with a 100 percent kicking rate.
Deysel gave the South Africans the lead in the 10th minute before Schwartz shipped in with a conversion and a penalty in the following nine minutes before Zimbabwe hooker Tapiwanashe Maunze was taken out in an injury substitution and was replaced by Christopher Duffield in the 20th minute.
And it was right at the stroke of half time that Zimbabwe replied with a Vheriwa try out at the far side and the two sides went in to the break with Zimbabwe trailing 10-5.
Nine minutes into the second half, Valke made two tactical changes, the pair of try scoring centre Deysel and eighth-man Thabo Ndimande making way for Jabu Mabena and Noeth who went on to score Valke’s second of the game.
And five minutes after making changes, the move paid for Valke as Noeth touched down and it would take another six minutes before Zimbabwe responded and Chivanga’s try was successfully converted by Ngonyamo.
But that was to be Zimbabwe’s last scoring chance, before prop Tadiwanashe Muendesi became Zimbabwe’s second forced change also from the front row and was replaced by Mudiwa Mkanza a minute before Schwartz’s penalty gave the South Africans a 20-12 win.
Zimbabwe Under-17 team: Tadiwanashe Muendesi, Tapiwanashe Maunze, Billy Mapfumo, Thokozani Mrewa, Trent Adams, Milton Kachecha, Ronald Mirimi, Takudzwa Mpariwa, Michael Mhute, Tabonga Ngonyamo, Lameck Vheriwa, Patrick Chivanga, Wilbert Munda, Leon Kadzere, Brendon Muchopa. —Sportszone.
Online Reporter