tawandamusarurwa
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
Zimbabwe Goshawks ………. (13) 26
Windhoek D Welwitschias …(17)31
ONE could have easily mistaken Zimbabwe Goshawks coach Brendan Dawson for the winning coach, as the 55-year-old was smiling ear-to-ear soon after watching his young but talented side go down fighting to Namibia at Harare Sports Club’s Machinery Exchange Stadium yesterday.
The two sides met in the latest chapter of their storied rivalry, as the Goshawks opened their account in the Mzansi Challenge.
It was a game that Zimbabwe really could and should have won had they made full use of the penalties they were awarded and held onto the ball better.
The young team left no less than three possible tries on the field through ball-handling errors.
However, despite the loss and high number of unforced errors, Dawson still expressed his satisfaction during the post-match press conference.
“I am over the moon … it’s amazing what this young team has done today and I am so very proud of them,” said Dawson.
“Irrespective of the 31-26 scoreline, it is a great victory for us as a group.
“The entire team put in a great shift, and I can’t really fault anyone for the loss or the errors,” he said.
To his credit, there was very little to separate the two teams, who are using this tournament as a developmental opportunity to blood new players.
In the case of the World Cup-bound Namibia, they are also looking to add to their depth.
Unlike in previous encounters between the two sides, the hosts kept the game very close and neutralised the Namibians’ physicality with speed.
However, the experience of the visitors got them the win, as they got their tries from Jason Bendade, Mahepisa Tjeriko, and flyhalf Andre Berge.
In fact, Berge had a fine afternoon and controlled the game really well.
He also chipped in with two conversions and four penalties.
Zimbabwe got onto the scoreboard through three penalties and a conversion from skipper Hilton Mudariki, while McLean Muhambi, Patrick Macklin and Gideon Maseka scored the tries.
Both teams are not going to lose sleep over the result, and those that will follow in the coming weeks, as emphasis has been put on building a player base and blooding as many new players as possible.
What is likely to give them sleepless nights is the high number of unforced errors, as the Welwitschias conceded as many as 26 penalties.
The hosts’ ball handling was simply atrocious.
“We expected nothing less than a high intensity and close game from Zimbabwe; they are a fighting nation and we are just glad we could come here and get this experience,” said the Welwitschias coach Chrysander Botha.
“Today we didn’t kick very well; I think it was a bit windy and that really affected us.
“Our discipline also let us down today, and I think the penalty count was about 26 or 27, which is terrible and unacceptable.
“We need to work on it in the coming days,” he said.
Online Reporter