adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
AFTER their failure to qualify for the 2016 World Cup last year, the Sables are back in business once again. Sables coach, Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge, feels his side will need, at least, two weeks of camp if they are to have solid preparations for their Africa Rugby Cup clash against Namibia in seven weeks time.
According to Africa Rugby, Zimbabwe is expected first travel to Namibia for the June 6 clash against the World Cup-bound Welwistichians before hosting Kenya the following weekend in Harare. The Africa Cup tournament will this year be played on a round-robin basis and the soft-spoken coach feels there is not much time left as they need to get down to business soon.
The locally-based players, who were part of the Sables World Cup qualifier squad, have been going through their paces under the guidance of Mandenge in the capital.
“I believe we need at least two-and-a-half weeks of camp ahead of our games in the Africa Cup because as things are at the moment, there is no time.
“Yes, in terms of talking, it might seem we still have a lot of time on our hands, but we don’t.
“According to the plan, we had already set and agreed on, we are meant to have a team building session outside town (Harare), but that will all depend on funds. “We are still going out with our begging bowls, hoping to get partners for this campaign,” said Mandenge.
Kenya have already named their extended Africa Cup for this year’s campaign but Mandenge says he is not worried about what other teams are doing.
“I do not feel pressure at all that Kenya have named their squad because I am in constant communication and always in touch with the foreign-based players.
Online Reporter