Zim preps for JWRT on Course

United States.
The Zimbabwe Under-19 side won the junior Africa Cup at Prince Edward School last year after beating rivals Namibia in the final to earn the right to represent the continent at the annual junior rugby showcase.
This makes it the third straight time for the Young Sables to compete in the JWRT, having finished seventh in Moscow, Russia before finishing eighth at the same stage in Georgia last year in the eight-team tournament.
However, despite coming out as the least ranked side in the tournament last year, Jijita — who was also part of the side that traveled to Georgia and took part in the Junior Africa Cup — sees better fortunes for Zimbabwe in the United States.
“The preparations we are doing this year are much better compared to last year.
“We started earlier and we have been doing a lot of strength and conditioning with Grant Mitchell and that is really helping.
“To some extent (the lack of) fitness played a role in the way we played last year so we have that at a bigger scale this year so this gives us some confidence that we are going to do well, we have the potential to do better,” said the former Prince Edward student.
As part of their training schedule in preparation of the  Young Sables are in gym every Monday to Thursday between 11am and 12 mid-day at Country Club gym in Highlands.
They also take to the field with coach Brighton Chivandire at Prince Edward.
“This year’s tournament means more to us because we are more on a revenge mission as the team failed to come to the party last year and we finished last losing closely to the United States in the final game.
“We are looking at redeeming ourselves and show that we are surely an African giant and we are not going there to make up the numbers but we have to prove that we are there for serious business,” added Jijita.
Among the players that were part of the Africa Cup and JWRT 2011 squads and are training with the local squad are winger Victor Mushoriwa, Sean Joubert, Joshua Smallbones.
Jijita showed a lot of potential last year at the JWRT where he proved a vital cog of the loose trio for the Young Sables but it was at the junior Africa Cup that he showed maturity and strength.
It was in the semi-final against Tunisia when the Young Sables were leading 5-0 at the break but they came back a spirited side in the second half with Jijita coming in with three tries and centre Preston Bryant weighed in with a brace.
But Jijita will be missing the services of Bryant who has shown interest in playing for the Blitzbokke after he was roped into the SA Academy by coach Marius Schoman early this year.
“My main goal is to make the Blitzbokke team (The Springbok 7’s). However, as I have just started here I am striving to play the best I can in the upcoming tournaments I have for the SA sevens academy.
“I appreciate all Zimbabwe rugby has done for me, but unfortunately I’d have to turn it down.
“My main goal from here on is to make the Blitzbokke side, however long that may take.
“For now, I am not sure as to what may happen for me in June, but I want to play for them (Zimbabwe) if the opportunity allows it to happen,” said Bryant.
Bryant was part of the SA Academy side that took part at last week’s Zimbabwe International Sevens tournament at Harare Sport Club but he did not play having pulled his hamstring.
Meanwhile, Old Hararians are today expected to host their annual pre-season tournament that is set to feature teams from Botswana and Zambia, taking advantage of the event to showcase the new names in the squad who include fullback Daniel Robertson and Luke Rutter, coach Doug Treveira and assistant Vakai Hove. Robertson — who is the reigning Player of the Year — moved from District Dragons to add flavour, strength and balance to the Old Boys defence and attack that was not as strong last year.