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While the Sables were celebrating their win in Tunis, Tunisia, the Zimbabwe Under-18 side were in the same mood here after registering a win in their first game of the Coca-Cola Craven Week festival at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium following a 31-9 win over Border CD.
However, it was the Sables who had a bigger reason to celebrate as the win over Tunisia also saw them extend their unbeaten run to six — a record winning streak for the senior team.
Having gained promotion into the World Cup qualifying Group 1A last year from second tier Group 1B after finishing top in the competition, the Sables continued from where they left off to book a place in the Africa Cup final for the first time.
The win on Tuesday now means that the Sables will take on Uganda in the final after the East Africans got the better of defending champions and neighbours Kenya 20-19 at the same venue on Tuesday in the other semi-final.
Last year, the Sables finished with a record equaling five wins to finish the 2011 international season unbeaten and on Tuesday night, they continued from where they left off but this time with the aim of making it to the 2015 World Cup.
All that Brendon Dawson’s men need to do now is ensure they maintain the momentum for the World Cup qualifying tournament set for next year.
The winner of next year’s edition will be one of Africa’s representatives at the 2015 World Cup in England.
According to reports from Tunis, two penalties from Tichafara Makwanya and a converted try by lock Jan Ferreira gave Zimbabwe their first half points.
Tangai Nemadire then added another try in the second half which was converted by second half flyhalf substitute and debutante Lenience Tambwera.
Cheetahs skipper Jacques Leitao also planted a try for Zimbabwe before a Tambwera penalty gave the Sables the win that will take them into Saturday’s final.
The Sables game against Tunisia was a match of three parts with Zimbabwe dominant in two of the sessions as they were the first to get off the mark, scoring 13 points in the opening 18 minutes.
But the Tunisians picked themselves up and, pulling back 11 unreplied points in the first half.
The North Africans also scored three more points early in the second half but the Sables regained control of the game and scored 17 more points.
Dawson also made a double substitution in the second period and introduced youthful Tatenda Karuru coming in for veteran hooker Prayer Chitenderu while Kudakwashe Chiwanza made way for the experienced Gardner Nechironga on the wing. The Sables coach then threw in former Zimbabwe Under-19 flyhalf Lenience Tambwera for Old Hararians flyhalf Tichafara Makwanya and that proved just the tonic the Southern Africans needed.
A good work out in the midfield by winger Tangai Nemadire and centre Daniel Hondo resulted in another try and Tambwera had no problem with the bonus points, to add two more points for the Sables sending them into a 20-14 lead.
Another debutante, former Zimbabwe Under-20 fullback Raymond De Jong — who is now based in Australia — fared well with the support of Nemadire and Nechironga while the Sports Club duo of Hondo and Cleopas Makotose held the Zimbabwe attack intact in the midfield.
Online Reporter