Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (13) 29
Kenya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (18) 23
IT might not have been the most clinical of victories but they got the job done!
That was the story of the Zimbabwe Sables as they left it late to edge out Kenya 29-23 at the Mandela Stadium yesterday, to set up a clash with Namibia in the final.
The titanic duel between two all-too familiar foes lived up to the billing as there was very little to separate the two sides on a rather windy day in Kampala, Uganda.
The Sables drew first blood early in the opening exchanges, thanks to a moment of sublime chemistry between centres Brendon Mudzekenyedzi and Edward Sigauke.
The duo sliced through the Kenyan defence with surgical precision, and Mudzekenyedzi dotted down a brilliant try to give Zimbabwe the early initiative.
Ian Prior, unfortunately, couldn’t convert and as such Kenya immediately hit back with a try of their own from hooker Eugene Wesonga to leave the scores tied at five points apiece.
What followed was a see-saw affair as both teams wrestled and tussled for control in the midfield.
With possession as the ultimate dictator, neither side was willing to yield.
A yellow card to Kenya’s Griffin Chao for a cynical infringement handed the Sables a numerical advantage, tilting momentum so slightly in their favour.
Prior scored a penalty, while the Sables skipper crossed the try-line.
However, they hit back with two penalties of their own from fullback Jone Kubu after which Griffin Mwalukware scored a converted try that gave Kenya a slender 18-13 lead going into the breather.
It was the first time in two Rugby Africa Cup editions that Zimbabwe had gone into the break trailing and nothing short of perfection would see them over to victory in the second half.
And perfection was what the Sables gave their East African opponents.
The second half resumed with thunderous energy.
Victor Mupunga, patched up from a blood injury, returned to the front row with renewed grit.
The back-and-forth continued as Bornwell Gwinji, replacing Cleopas Kundiona, surged through with power carries.
Meanwhile, the midfield remained firmly under Zimbabwean control, as Mudzekenyedzi and Kudzai Mashawi kept the Kenyan backs on their heels.
Aiden Burnett, absent in the quarter-final, made his presence known with the all-important try that gave back Zimbabwe their lead as Prior got his kick back.
The wind was kinder to the Zimbabwe fly-half as Prior added to his tally with a drop kick and penalties.
This gave Zimbabwe what would turn out to be an unassailable 29-18 lead as the Sables kept Kenya quiet with the clock ticking down with every tackle and team in defensive effort.
The closing stages then turned into a tactical and mental war.
Though Kenya would sneak in a consolation try from substitute Victor Teddy, the damage had already been done.
The Sables held firm, the final whistle was blown and the cacophony of Kenyan vuvuzelas fell to a hush.
Instead, it was Ugandan and Zimbabwean voices bursting into celebratory chorus as the Sables formed a victorious huddle under the Kampala sun.
The Man-of-the-match was handed to Tinotenda Mavesera, whose relentless graft and physical dominance set the tone for Zimbabwe’s forwards.
“Ndezva Mwari — it’s all about God,” Mavesera said.
“Thank God, the boys came through, this was for our nation and the people back home.
“This means everything to us and it is a privilege for each of us to do this thing we all love.
“I’m happy we stuck to our plan and believed in it,” he said.
The win sets up an even more enticing match up as Zimbabwe will now face Namibia in the final of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup.
Namibia beat Algeria 21-7 in the other semi-final.
The winner of that match automatically books their ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia while the loser, or runner-up, will get a second bite at the cherry at the Repechage tournament.
