Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Sables and Simbas of Kenya are expected in Bulawayo tomorrow ahead of their Rugby Africa Gold Cup clash at Hartsfield Rugby Ground on Saturday.
The game will mark the return of international rugby to Bulawayo after a six-year hiatus, as all games were being held in Harare.
The local organising committee (LOC) for Saturday’s game is expecting a huge crowd at Hartsfield, which last played host to an international game in July 2011 when Zimbabwe beat Uganda 49-21 in a Victoria Cup game.
Theo Weale, the LOC chairman for the Rugby Africa Gold Cup, believes the Sables’ 26-31 loss to Namibia in Windhoek at the weekend will not deter fans from attending the match against the East Africans, who remain unbeaten in the competition.
Kenya visit Bulawayo with their confidence high following a 45-25 home win over Senegal.
“People of Bulawayo have been longing for international rugby and this is the time to show that we have passionate fans in this part of the country. Let’s show people that rugby needs to be played at Hartsfield by coming in numbers and setting an electric atmosphere. As the LOC, we are confident that the people of Bulawayo and surrounding areas who love rugby will come in their numbers to cheer our Sables, who lost in Namibia last weekend,” said Weale.
The Sables returned from Namibia on Monday and resumed training in Harare.
Zimbabwe are fourth on the table, with seven points from two games, while their opponents Kenya are second with 13 points after three matches.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union president Nyararai Sibanda is confident the Sables will beat Kenya.
“I’m proud of the boys because they fought for their country and lost by a tight call in Namibia. We’re doing everything we can so that the players and the coaches focus on winning the game. They didn’t break when they returned from Namibia on Monday and are training in Harare. They will be coming to Bulawayo on Thursday and we will have a reception for both the Sables and the Simbas,” Sibanda said.
Last year, Kenya drubbed Zimbabwe 61-15 at the Police Grounds in Harare in a disastrous campaign for the Sables in which they finished bottom of the table without a win.
Meanwhile, Simbas’ coach Jerome Paarwater told CapitalFM of Kenya that he expects a tough game against the Sables.
Paarwater expects a better game in Zimbabwe compared to last weekend’s home tie against Senegal.
He accused Senegal of slowing down the game.
“It wasn’t a pretty game at all. It was an ugly game and not played in the right spirit of the game that we want to play.
“I don’t think any of those teams will try to slow us down because both Namibia and Zimbabwe are positive teams which want to go out and enjoy their game. They will want to play the game in good spirit. Our game is played on speed, Zimbabwe play on speed as well,” said Paawaeter.
@ZililoR
Online Reporter