adminTHE Zimbabwe national 15s rugby team have intensified preparations for their final match of the Africa Cup Division 1A with 23 players converging for camp in Harare today.
Out of those, only 22 will make the trip to Namibia later on in the week for what is a crucial fixture.
Local based players have been training at Prince Edward school in the capital on Mondays and Wednesdays. South Africa and overseas based players are expected to start arriving from today with coach Cyprian Mandenge and national team selectors expected to decide on which player would miss the trip to Namibia.
Team manager Sebastain Garikai yesterday disclosed that United Kingdom based loose forward Kingsley Lang who missed the match against Tunisia was already in the country where he has been training with the locally based stars while another member of the loose trio Andrew Rose is expected from overseas.
“We are expecting the guys from South Africa to start arriving from tomorrow (today), Kingsley Lang is already here, Andrew Rose is also coming from overseas,’’ said Garikai.
Among the SA-based players are skipper Denford Mutamangira, Royal Mwale, Sanele Sibanda, Biselele Tshamala and Riaan O’Neil who are all based in KwaZulu-Natal.
Notable absentees from the team which took on Tunisia are France based Farai Mudariki, Nico Nyemba who plays club rugby in England, Lawrence Cleminson and another player plying his trade in South Africa Kevin Nqindi.
There are recalls for forwards Lucky Sithole, Tatenda Karuru, Brian Makamure and backline player Gerald Sibanda.
Before Namibia took on Kenya in Windhoek yesterday, Zimbabwe were on top of the four team log standings with six points after a 28-20 triumph over Kenya and a 19-8 victory against Tunisia, both matches played on the Jubilee Field at PE.
Zimbabwe have a great chance of winning the Africa Cup should they conquer Namibia in their own backyard. Last year, Namibia denied Zimbabwe their first Rugby World Cup since 1991 when they finished on top of the Division 1A during qualifiers held in Madagascar.
The Sables, then coached by Brendan Dawson finished second, went on an inter-confederation play-off against Russia where they lost 23-15.
Sables squad
Denford Mutamangira (captain), Royal Mwale, Brian Makamure, Tatenda Karuru, Tatenda Murwira, Sanele Sibanda, Fortune Chipendu, Biselele Tshamala, Kyle De Beer, Lucky Sithole, Andre Rose, Kingsley Lang, Charles Jiji, Hilton Mudariki, Lenience Tambwera, Tichafara Makwanya, Riaan O’Neil, Cleopas Makotose, Boyd Rouse, Gerald Sibanda, Stephan Hunduza, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Tangai Nemadire.
Coach: Cyprian Mandenge
Assistant coach: Nsikelelo Sibanda
Team Manager: Sebastain Garikai
Online Reporter