Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Sables are relishing the challenge of hosting plucky Namibia in a Test rugby match at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.
Action is scheduled to get underway at 3pm.
The Sables believe they are in good shape to rewrite a painful history, having failed to beat the Namibians in Zimbabwe in the past 25 years.
Despite being labelled a friendly, there is consensus among the rugby faithful that this is more than just an exhibition match.
It is a stern test for the Sables, who have never had it easy against Namibia.
For a side that recently qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, marking Zimbabwe’s return to the global showcase for the first time since 1991, a defeat to Namibia isn’t what the players, and their fans, are expecting.
This match is one of their key preparatory tests for the Rugby World Cup and a win will be a positive step towards the global tourney.
Vice-captain Kudzai Mashawi is aware of the mammoth task which awaits the Sables at the World Cup. He said after enjoying a successful year, they need to ensure they are in the best possible shape when they get to Australia.
“It has been a good year for us, achieving such a huge feat in the past year and obviously playing in the Nations Cup for the first time,” he said.
“We have learned as a group, likewise as a nation, and you can see the vibe, the energy that the country has just been having.
“Having qualified for the World Cup and having to play such a friendly at home, we ought to instil some confidence in our fans and that can only come with a win.
“Us going out there at National Sports Stadium to play against Namibia, we can call it a rivalry but, for us, it’s another stepping stone so that we prepare for what we’re going up against in the coming weeks and months.
“Yeah, it’s going to be a nice feeling to have the massive support of Zimbabwe behind us.”
The Sables have spent the past weeks in an intense training camp fine-tuning combinations, set pieces and defensive structures, and Mashawi said the technical team has left no stone unturned.
This Test also marks a significant moment for local rugby, with international rugby returning to the giant stadium after two decades, giving fans a rare chance to watch world-class rugby on home soil. The vice-captain believes a strong performance can inspire a new generation and reignite national passion for the 15-man game.
Co-vice captain, Aiden Burnett, said it has been an intense training camp with the team working round the clock to tie loose ends ahead of the Test.
“We are looking forward to playing, this is our first big game at home in years, everyone in camp is in high spirits and we are ready for the task,” he said.
“It has been a busy few weeks in which we played two intense games against each other so now it is time to see what we can do against Namibia and how much we can stretch in a highly competitive setting.
“This Test also marks a significant milestone, with international rugby returning to the National Sports Stadium after two decades, giving fans a rare chance to watch world-class rugby on home soil.”
