Sables camp starts as Benade gets selection headache

THE Sables get down to work in South Africa today as coach Piet Benade begins taking a closer look at players pushing for places ahead of the Nations Cup.

Zimbabwe’s extended squad starts a training camp with the Blue Bulls which runs until Friday, with coaches expected to use the week to see what they really have in the squad.

The camp brings together mainly locally based players and foreign-based players whose seasons ended early.

It is also giving some younger and uncapped players a chance to spend time around the national team set-up.

Zimbabwe Rugby Union interim management committee general manager Takunda Chifokoyo said finding competitive matches has not been easy.

“It was always going to be tough for us to secure many games for the team, coming out of the stage that we were at as a union,” he said.

Because of that, the union has arranged two camps.

After this week’s Blue Bulls camp, the Sables will head to Stellenbosch for another camp with South Africa’s Under-20 side from June 8 to 13.

Chifokoyo believes the camps will still give coaches a chance to see players before the Nations Cup.

“With the Blue Bulls camp, I am really excited about the players we will get to see because coach Piet Benade has already announced his squad for the trip,” he said.

“I would really hate to be part of the technical team solely based on the amount of talent at coach Benade’s disposal.

“I am sure he would want to pick 50 or 60 players to take to the Nations Cup, but that won’t be possible.

“However, I am sure he has already started looking at trimming down the squad.”

Benade has already been joined by some foreign-based players, including David Hayes, Tapiwa Mafura and Michael Kumbirai.

Mafura travelled with the squad, while players like Godfrey Muzanargwo, Munashe Mhere, Kyle Theron, Munashe Dukuswa and Edward Sigauke have also linked up with camp.

Spain-based duo Bornwell Gwinji and Simba Mandioma also travelled with the team.

Some players are still expected to join later because of club commitments.

Farai Mudariki and Matthew McNab are expected next month.

“The guys playing in those high-level leagues are tougher to get into camp early, but we know what they are capable of, and the coaching staff won’t need much time with them,” said Chifokoyo.

For Benade and his technical team, this week is less about names and more about finding the players they can trust when the Nations Cup starts.