‘This is the greatest country’

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
SABLES coach Brendan Dawson has said while he considers talent in selecting players for national duty, he also wants players who are passionate about wearing the hooped green and white rugby jersey.Dawson says those who do not have the drive to play for Zimbabwe can go somewhere else.

The Sables coach was referring to Cheetahs and former Zimbabwe Under-20 forward Tapiwa Tsomondo who turned down a Zimbabwe rugby call-up but went on to play flank for Western Province at the weekend against Namibia.

“There are different reasons of him playing there, he does not want to play for us. We have approached him and he says he is not ready to play for us,” said Dawson.
“So, if he is not ready to play for us I can’t push people to wear the green and white jersey you have to be proud, passionate and love your country to want to play for it.

“That is what I believe in and that’s why I believe in picking players that are dedicated to playing for their country and this is the greatest country so if they don’t want to play for us, (they might as well) go and play for someone else.”

The Sables held their first field training session yesterday morning at St John’s College with about five more players expected to join camp by end of day today and these include Lions scrummy Ross Cronje, Riaan O’Neill  and Njabulo Ncube.

With Zimbabwe expected to take on Namibia, Kenya and Madagascar in the Africa Cup that is also doubling up as the 2015 World Cup qualifier, the Welwitschias are their biggest rivals but given the crop of players in camp, Dawson feels he has a better side than last year’s team.

And the only thing on Dawson’s mind right now is winning the tournament and qualifying for the World Cup without having to play in the play-offs where the runners-up will play.

“(The squad is) is a hell lot better than the one we took to Namibia, we have a lot of youth coming in, we had a couple of players falling sick in Namibia but they are back and fully fit and I fully believe we have strengthened the side with (flanker Kinsgley) Lang coming in and scrummy Ross Cronje.

“If you see Njabulo, he is one of the most unbelievable number eights I have seen playing so it’s going to be good for us,” said Dawson.

But the Sables only have a 10-day camp that includes a Probables versus Probables game set for Harare Sports Club on Saturday, and a three-day training session with South Africa scrimmaging coach Balie Swart.

And this is a worry for Dawson given that Kenya and Namibia have had better preparations with friendlies against South African provincial sides.

“Namibia played with almost their full strength side, we have six or seven players we are bringing in. Yes, there is a lot to worry about because they have put in a lot of money and their preparations are what a full side should be doing.

“But I am happy with the way we are going to do it, we are Zimbabweans, we dig deep we know where we come from, we believe in ourselves and I believe with the way we are training and the way things are going, we are going to be alright.

“I portray a lot of faith and belief to my boys and belief is everything. We have to believe from the moment you walk onto that field. We made a few mistakes, left one or two players behind. We have to win it not through repachage.”

However, the first day of training went well for the former Sables captain and he is equally pleased with the side which he has described as “balanced”..

“It was good, the concentration was there, the intensity was there and it was excellent. I was impressed with the guys that are here and their attitude, they have really gone through their paces this morning so it was a good session with the boys, I was very impressed,” said Dawson.

 Sables Squad

Forwards: F. Chipendu, J. Ferreira, S. Ferreira, L. Groenewald, P. Joubert, G. Lawler, J. Leitao, M. Mandioma, T. Mangezi, K. Murray, D. Mutamangira, R. Mwale, J. Ndlovu, K. Nqindi, M. Passaportis, A. Rose, S. Sibanda, N. Winwood.

Backs: T. Chitokwindo, D. Hondo, S. Hunduza, S. Makombe, T. Makwanya, H. Mudariki, G. Nechironga, T. Nemadire, R. O’Neill, D. Robertson, G. Sibanda, L. Tambwera.