ZIMBABWE’S senior rugby side received a major boost after the United Kingdom-based trio of Shingi Mpofu, Tommy Nelson and Nic Winwood joined the rest of the squad in Dubai ahead of the start of the Emirates Cup of Nations tomorrow.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO IN DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The trio will, however, only get a chance to train with the team today ahead of the Sables’ first match of their campaign against Hong Kong tomorrow at the Sevens Stadium.
Kick-off is 6pm local time (4pm Zimbabwean time).
In the absence of several experienced players who opted for the Zimbabwe Sevens side, the Sables were desperately in need of some seasoned players to boost their options.
While Nelson and Winwood are still new to the team, it is the availability of Mpofu, who plays for Scottish top-flight side AYR, which could turn out to be the tonic coach Brendan Dawson needed ahead of the start of the tournament.
The former Harare Sports Club flank is expected to give Dawson more options in the forwards pack, an area the Sables will need to be at their best if they are to outmuscle their opponents.
A confident Mpofu said he was glad to be back in the Sables set-up for the first time since making his move to Europe.
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“It feels good to be back in the side. I’ve always been looking forward to playing for my country again and hopefully, I can help the guys post good results in this tournament and continue where we left off in Tunisia.
“We have a very talented group of young players who are determined to do well and also get recognition and I think we will do well.”
Mpofu said he had settled well at his new base at AYR where he is one of the two Zimbabwean players at the club together with prop Denford Mutamangira.
“I think I’m beginning to settle very well in Scotland. Initially, I found it hard to adjust to the weather conditions, but I’m now used to the conditions and my teammates have also been very helpful. The game there is a lot more technical and I have been learning a lot, hopefully this will also benefit the team in this tournament,” Mpofu said.
The Sables arrived to favourable conditions in Dubai yesterday after a taxing journey which included a brief stopover in the Zambian capital Lusaka.
While most members were expecting very hot conditions, the weather was very pleasant due to the winter season currently prevailing in this part of the world.
The team was given a warm welcome by their hosts and checked in at the City Max Buur Hotel in central Dubai.
