adminDawson’s contract as the national team gaffer came to an end last year in July after guiding the Sables to an unbeaten run of five games in the Victoria Rugby Cup and in the process winning the trophy.
Zimbabwe beat Kenya 42-24 in Harare before completing a double with a 26-21 win in Nairobi. The Sables accounted for Uganda 49-29 in Bulawayo and 25-15 in Kampala where Zimbabwe also cruised past Madagascar.
Under Dawson, Zimbabwe moved from 48 to 35 on world rankings.
Sources within ZRU said a committee reviewing the Sables’ performance recommended in their report that Dawson should be given another chance to lead the national team. This was despite strong lobbying from some quarters that a Harare coach be given the job.
“What I can tell you is that ZRU was impressed with the Sables last year and a committee reviewing the team’s performance recommended that the technical team led by Brendan Dawson be retained. The board should be announcing the coach at the end of January so that he starts planning for the year,” said a source.
Dawson is on record as saying the team’s best performance in four years was due to hard work.
He confirmed being in talks with ZRU.
The former national skipper said he was interested in the national team job. Dawson introduced a number of youngsters into the national team who are likely to play for Zimbabwe in the next World Cup qualifiers.
Zimbo Busters’ 22-year-old Lloyd Machanjaira and Tatenda Karuru who was part of the national Under-20 team that toured Georgia in May, won the Victoria Rugby Cup with the Sables. “I would love to continue with
the Sables but it will depend on what the board says. We have been in talks with the guys from ZRU and we will see which way it goes.
“As for the team, I believe we have a group of young players capable of taking Zimbabwe to greater heights. It’s a mixture of experience and youth which is fundamental for any serious side,” said Dawson.
Some of the experienced players expected to lead Sables’ 2015 IRB World Cup campaign include skipper Daniel Hondo, flyhalf Tichafara Makwanya, speed merchant Gardner Nechironga, locks Fortune Chipendu and Cheetahs’ captain Jacques Leitao.
Online Reporter