Sables plan to end year in style as they travel to Hong Kong

going down one place on the International Rugby Board world rankings, the African champions are positive they will close the year on a positive note at the Emirates Dubai Six-Nations invitational tournament.
This invitational tournament will mark the end of the international season for the Sables who will take on Hong Kong and Belgium in Pool A of the week long tournament.
Some of the foreign-based and more experience players that were not part of the Sables tour of Namibia are also expected to make the side stronger as the technical team hopes to field the best possible side.
But the biggest lesson the Sables learnt is probably that the Zimbabwe Rugby Union should move away from the amateur approach if they are to compete favourably outside Africa.
Scrummy Scotty Jones — who was also part of the Africa Cup winning side in Morocco a few months ago — feels this combined with the good talent in the country Zimbabwe could reign big in Africa.
“We learnt that it’s difficult for us to compete against teams that are professional, they get paid, they go to gym and get there supplements from the unions. They (Spain and Namibia players) were stronger than us but we were definitely more skilful than they were.
“We just need more sponsors and money so that we can move forward in our preparations for next year,” said Jones.
Former Young Sables prop Brian “Bee Mak” Makamure has also been drafted into the Sables squad for the Emirates Six-Nations tournament and can not wait to don the green and white stripped jersey after missing out on Namibia due to educational commitments.
The last time he wore the Sables jersey was when Zimbabwe were crowned Africa champions for the first time since the turn of the millennium a few months ago.
“I am looking forward to that come back.  My love for the Sables has come to a level where I would put my life on the line for that team, the country and the people we represent.
“Zimbabwe wants winners, trophies and the like. We are the African champions, reigning Victoria Cup champions and despite the recent losses faced, Zimbabwe Sables will most definitely get back to their winning ways in Dubai,” added Makamure.
The South Africa-based prop believes the Sables can make it for the 2015 World Cup if they take the game seriously and feels the defeat to Namibia shows them what they are capable of doing.
“The fact that the Sables only lost by a handful points to Namibia who last year were at the World Cup shows that we are ready to take our rugby to the next stage which is have it treated as a professional sport at club level as well as national level.
“There is a lot of good that can be taken from what the team experienced in Namibia. Regardless of all constraints that the team as well as administration face, the team is able to pull it off.
“We need to play more matches at international level and intensity so the team can get used to that fast first class rugby. I would say the squad needs to take it a game at a time and ensure that they minimise on mistakes that could end up costing the game, everything else will follow.”
“However, this wont be possible until the corporate world gets on board,” said Makamure.
Jones feels that their performance at the Dubai tournament is going to have a lot of effect on how the corporate world will respond to the Sables’ cry for financial help to enable them to play in more international tournaments.