adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
THE Sables yesterday left for Windhoek, Namibia, with Zimbabwe Rugby Union technical director Liam Middleton confident that the national rugby team will get positive results from their matches at the Tri-Nations Series there.
Zimbabwe will open their account against Kenya tomorrow while hosts Namibia are also involved in the same competition.
Middleton said he has introduced a new tackling technique, which he hopes could bring positive results as the Sables try to peg their opponents during their tour.
The former Cheetahs coach Middleton fine-tuned the squad over a four day training camp in Bulawayo assisted by coach Brendon Dawson and assistant coach Cyprian Mandenge.
“I was very pleased with how the players responded to my techniques during the camp.
“Both the coaches and the players had a good working relationship and that was wonderful.
“Now I feel that that the team has confidence and they are now up for the game.
“We were working on our defence and areas were we felt we lacked a bit of understanding in play.
“The guys really worked hard and I have introduced a new tackling skill and the results were excellent. The players are now looking forward to the matches.
“We have got the right players for our new structure like Gardener Nechironga, Kingsley Lang, Daniel Hondo and Lenience Tambwera, and all these players really fitted into that structure.
“I am also confident that we could score a number of tries in Namibia and in terms of our preparations, we have done very well,” said Middleton.
The youngest player in the Sables squad is England-based 21-year-old Hilton Mudariki who plays as a scrum half.
Mudariki is now aiming to get his first cap on this tour and said he was anxious to play well.
“I know that this is my first time to go on tour with the Sables but I am confident that my performance will be good,” said Mudariki.
The Sables were given a big send-off by the Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, who said her ministry was keen on sports development and are working to ensuring that the athletes get the possible support from the Government and corporate sector.
“As a ministry we are all very excited about sports and it means that it is a direct area we are all going to focus on.
“Right now the Ministry of Finance is working on the national budget and we had budget consultations in Victoria falls where we submitted our suggestions to the Ministry of Finance.
“We want the corporate world to be involved in sports like rugby,” said Kanengoni-Malinga.
Kanengoni-Malinga said she was happy that some players were foreign-based while others are based in Zimbabwe.
“We know that some of you are not based here in Zimbabwe and you only came back home to be part of this team and we really applaud that.
“We also know that the you might be playing the sport as a hobbie but we want to see you take this as your career,” said Kanegoni-Malinga.
SABLES SQUAD
Props: Nick Winwood (Blackheath, England), Pieter Joubert (OGs), Kevin Nqindi (Belhar Rugby Club, SA), Fidel Nyabusha (HSC)
Hookers: Keith Murray (OGs), Royal Mwale (Ballito Dolphins, SA)
Locks: Jan Ferreira (Mat Warriors), Michael Passaportis (Valence, France), Martin Wolfenden (Cambridge RFC, UK)
Flanks: Kingsley Lang (Jersey, England), Fortune Chipendo (OGs) Jacques Leitao (OGs, Vice-Captain), Andrew Rose (Boroughmuir, Scotland)
Scrumhalves: Phil Machisa (HSC), Hilton Mudariki (Amersham & Chiltern, England)
Flyhalves: Boyd Rouse (OGs), Lenience Tambwera (HSC), Tichafara Makwanya (OH)
Centres: Daniel Hondo (HSC, Captain), Sean Moan (Blackheath, England)
Wings: Stephan Hunduza (HSC), Gardner Nechironga (OH)
Fullbacks: Lungile Tshuma (OH), Tangai Nemadire (OH)
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