Online Reporter
Tawah Munthali-Zimpapers Sports Hub
NINE years ago, an 11-year-old boy stood in front of a Junior Sables jersey and took a photo.
This week, that same boy pulled the rugby jersey over his head.
Phillip Chimhaka has gone from admiring the green and white to wearing it, after earning selection in Zimbabwe’s 30-man Junior Sables squad for the 2026 Barthes Trophy which burst into life in Uganda yesterday.
It became a reminder of a dream that refused to fade.
The boy who once stood beside the jersey is now wearing it.
For Chimhaka, the call up is more than just selection to a national team.
It is the fulfilment of a childhood ambition that has driven him through years of training, setbacks and self-belief.
“I am really excited. I remember the 11-year-old me in 2017 posing for a picture next to the Junior Sables jersey, and now I am finally wearing the jersey and representing my country,” he said.
His journey has been one of steady growth rather than instant success.
Last year, he represented the Zimbabwe Under-20 side at the Abu Dhabi Sports Festival, where the Junior Sables gained valuable experience against quality international opposition.
The tournament exposed him to the intensity of elite junior rugby while reinforcing the standards required to compete at the highest level.
Instead of viewing challenges as obstacles, Chimhaka embraced them as lessons.
“You know, actually, the day I received the call up, I was in disbelief. I thought maybe the coach had made a mistake or something because I didn’t believe I was good enough to be called up into the Under-20 set up,” he said.
Reality began to sink in when the side travelled to the Abu Dhabi Sports Festival.
“Everything came to life during the Abu Dhabi tour when I received the starting jersey.
“At that moment, I remembered that 11-year-old me, and I knew I had to give it my all for him,” he added.
For Chimhaka, the dream does not end here. He hopes one day to wear the senior Sables jersey and represent Zimbabwe on the biggest stage.
“I have been working hard. My coaches have been pushing me to the best of my abilities, and I think all my schoolboy seasons and games have been building towards this goal.
“Obviously, the ultimate goal is to play for the Sables and represent Zimbabwe at the biggest stages.”
That mindset has carried him to one of the biggest moments of his young career.
The Barthes Trophy is Africa’s premier Under-20 rugby competition, bringing together the continent’s best emerging talent.
Beyond the battle for continental honours, the tournament offers players a platform to showcase their abilities and take another step towards senior international rugby.
For Chimhaka, however, the significance of the tournament runs deeper. Every time he pulls on the Junior Sables jersey, he will remember the young boy who once admired it from the outside, hoping that one day he would be worthy of wearing it.
“It means everything to represent Zimbabwe.
“When you’re young, you dream about moments like this, but dreaming isn’t enough. You have to put in the work every day, even when nobody is watching. That’s what gets you here.”
He hopes his journey will inspire another youngster to believe that dreams can become reality.
“It is an honour, and I really want to give it my all and make my country proud, as well as use this opportunity to inspire another 11-year-old kid who is watching me play,” said Chimhaka.
His story resonates beyond rugby.
It is about believing in a vision long before it becomes reality and remaining committed even when progress feels slow.
In his earlier days Chimhaka looked up to players who had worn the Junior Sables jersey before him.
Now, he has become part of that legacy and hopes his own journey will inspire the next generation.
“One setback does not really define your journey. I was a non-travelling player from Under-14s, as well as Under-18s, but that did not stop me. Now I am in the playing at the Barthes Trophy.
“My message to the young players coming up is simple just keep going. Don’t let every setback define your career. Keep pushing. Some players are late bloomers.
“Just keep working, and one day you will receive a call-up and represent your country on the national stage,” said Chimhaka.
As Zimbabwe continue their search for the Barthes Trophy they last won in 2023, Chimhaka’s selection serves as a reminder that success is rarely built overnight.
It is forged through years of unseen effort, resilience and an enduring belief in the dream.
The photograph taken in 2017 captured an 11-year-old boy standing proudly beside a Junior Sables jersey, dreaming that one day he would wear it.
Nine years later, that dream has come full circle for Chimhaka.
