Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S Sables, with their hearts also with their ailing winger Shingi Katsvere will be seeking to complete a double over Zambia when the two sides clash in the second of their Zambezi rugby series in Lusaka today.
The match at Leopards Hill Polo Crosse Club, kicks off at 3pm, but Katsvere will be the missing link.
Swiss-based winger Katsvere suffered a heart attack and later a stroke earlier this month.
He is currently admitted at a Harare hospital. Katsvere had just made a gallant return to the Sables set-up and featured in Zimbabwe’s in the first of the Zambezi series games against Zambia and Botswana.
The 28-year-old actually scored a hat-trick of tries during the Sables’ 80-12 thumping of Botswana.
He had appeared to have made a big claim for a place in the Sables squad for the Africa Cup in Uganda in July.
Katsvere’s health problems have not been lost on his teammates with skipper Hilton Mudariki revealing that his illness had cast a shadow on the morale in the Sables dressing room.
“It has been a hit on team morale; Shingi is a very popular guy within the team, and he is one of the experienced guys we have within the set-up,” said Mudariki.
“He had just come back from a long lay-off and it definitely dented our spirits. We do know that Shingi is a fighter, he will recover from this and come back stronger than ever,” he said.
Katsvere’s heart attack and subsequent stroke is understood to have occurred on May 10, ironically the winger’s birthday.
While his teammates have vowed to also play for him in Zambia, the Sables Trust, the commercial wing of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union have been catering for much of his hospital bills.
A GoFundMe has also been established in order to raise the US$40 000 that is needed to cater for Katsvere’s medical bills, therapy in the road to possible full recovery.
In today’s match the Sables would according to Mudariki, need to play a disciplined game as Zambia appear to play their best rugby when they are at home.
The Sables convincingly won the first match up 70-15.
“Zambia are quality side, especially at home, and discipline is going to be a key thing for us.
“We need to make sure that we stay disciplined for the full 80 minutes, we know that emotions can run wild in derbies and they will punish us if we let our guard down.
“That is going to be a big focus for us this weekend,” he said.
Coach, Piet Benade, named a relatively strong Sables team with the gaffer welcoming back a slew of his foreign-based stars.
Among the new arrivals is Takudzwa Musingwini, the dynamic fullback recently named in the Iowa Central Community College Tritons’ State All-Star Team in the United States.
Also rejoining the fold is Dylan Utete, coming off the back of an impressive start at South Korea’s Okman Rugby Club, where he recently signed for the country’s top-tier rugby league.
Zimbabwe’s front row already boasts considerable experience with veteran French-based hooker Simbarashe Mandioma anchoring the scrum.
Mandioma’s inclusion is especially significant as he is set to reach his 50th cap, a milestone which Mudariki attained against South Korea in November last year.
It is a feat only a handful of Sables’ players have achieved in the team’s storied history.
“It is indeed good to have the boys (foreign-based players) back after a while but they will have to step up their game once we run onto the pitch.
“Everyone has to step up in their positions as we have to make sure that we put our best foot forward.
“The overseas boys will definitely add a lot of quality and experience to the team, so that is a huge positive,” added Mudariki.
Zimbabwe Sables Starting XV:
Tyran Fagan, Simbarashe Mandioma, Bornwell Gwinji, David Makamba, Nyasha Shiripinda, Dylan Utete, Brian Nyaude, Aiden Burnett (Vice-Captain), Hilton Mudariki (Captain), Lenience Tambwera, Edward Sigauke, Kudzai Mashawi, Dion Khumalo, Trevor Gurwe, Takudzwa Musingwini
Impact Players (Replacements):
Zvikomborero Chimoto, Bryan Chiang, Brian Makamure, Takunda Kundishora, Tadiwanashe Gwashu, Vuyani Dhlomo, Tyrone Gombe, Tapiwa Malenga
