adminPaul Munyuki : Sports Reporter
SABLES coach Cyprian Supa Mandenge has shown belief and faith in the future as he travelled to Namibia with a youthful rugby squad for their final Africa Cup Group 1A game against the hosts. Zimbabwe Under-20 captain Connor Pritchard, who was a revelation at the World Rugby Trophy Under-20 tournament a few months ago has been named in the starting XV together with Ian Muza, Tadius Dzandiwandira, David Makanda, Tinashe Toriro.Nine of the players in the starting XV against Namibia on Saturday were born after 1990 and this becomes Zimbabwe’s youngest Sables squad in almost a decade while at least seven of the players came through the Young Sables system.
“This is a sign that we are rebuilding. It is important that we take development seriously and invest in the players that come through our system and this is the beginning.
“Yes we are going to be facing Namibia, it is going to be a tough game but we have to start preparing for the future and come Hong Kong (in November) this is the kind of a team we are looking forward to be travelling with,” said Mandenge.
Only captain Denford Mutamangi, lock fortune Chipendu and versatile forward Constantine Dinha — who is the oldest member of the squad with 38 years old — are veterans of the game.
Zimbabwe lost their opening two Africa Cup games at home against Kenya and Uganda and have already been demoted to Group 1B for next year’s competition — a battle they will have to win if they are to stand a chance of making it for the 2019 World Cup.
In the forward pack, hooker Keith Murray (injury), Peiter Joubert, lock Sanele Sibanda, and flanker Jacques Leitao have all been ruled out while winger Tangai Nemadire, centre Boyd Rouse, and scrummy Hilton Mudariki have been left out.
Prop Makanda, hooker Muza, flanker Pritchard, have come in as part of the forwards while Toriro, Dzandiwanzira and Nduwa complete the changes Mandenge made to the side that lost to Uganda a fortnight ago.
As part of his dream to see Zimbabwe rugby move forward, newly-appointed Young Sables coach Bob Mahari believes there is great need for him to work closely with Mandenge if the Sables are to conquer Africa.
Mahari replaced Brandon Brider following a failed Under-20 World Rugby Trophy campaign three months ago compounded by the fact that the St George’s College coach dropped out of the elite Level Three coaching class.
“Brider had his vision on where he wanted to take junior rugby and as his assistant had to push in that direction as well.
But I believe there is need to combine the old and the new so I have to sit down with Cyprian (Mandenge) and get feedback as to what he expects on player coming into the Sables from the Under-20.
“We have to start winning as a country at all levels so we have to create that culture from the junior team starting with the Junior Africa Cup. We have not been qualifying for the World Rugby Junior Trophy.
“But we need to get the players into that winning mentality and build ethics that see us win up to the Sables level. It will no be a shocker that the ZRU is operating at and I would be asked to work with minimal resources something I have been used to at Churchill over the past six year . . . with results,” added Mahari.
Former Young Sables assistant coach Jeff Madhake who was part of the technical team two years ago has bounced back into the team’s structures while team manager Shaun de Souza’s future hangs in the balance.
Sables Squad
1-8: David Makanda, Ian Muza, Denford Mutamangira, Connor Pritchard, Biselele Tshamala, Fortunate Chependu, Constantine Dinha.
15-9: Irvine Nduwa, Tadius Dzandiwandira, Lungile Tshuma, Gavin Nyawata, Tinashe Toriro, Stephan Hunduza, Lenience Tambwera, Charles Jiji.
16-23: Witness Mandizha, Kudzai Mashawi, Tapfuma Parirenyatwa, Brian Makamure, George Saungweme, Joshua Gando, Royal Mwale, Ngoni Chibuwe.
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