ZIMBABWE’S Under-18 rugby team takes on Namibia in their last match of the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week tournament today, hoping to end a four-year winless streak against their bitter rivals. DANIEL NHAKANISO IN MIDDELBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
The Old Mutual Young Sables, who last, beat the Namibians in at the 2009 Craven Week Welkom, Free State Week, before also going down 33-10 to the same opponents last year face their old nemesis with their recent hoodoo hanging over their heads.
Namibia has, in recent years, proved to be Zimbabwe’s bogey side right from the senior side the Sables to the age group teams.
There will also be added pressure for the Goodwin Murambiwa-coached side to win today’s match against Namibia as they’re yet to register a win on this tour.
The Old Mutual Young Sables went down 54-41 to Eastern Province Country Districts in their first match on Monday before another 26-20 loss to Griquas Country Districts two days later.
In contrast, Namibia will head into today’s encounter full of confidence after winning their last match against Border Country Districts 69-0 on Thursday.
Murambiwa watched the game together with his assistant Brendon Brider and team manager Tungamirai Mashungu.
While during the last match the technical team was forced to rotate their side because of tournament’s rotation policy, he will have the privilege of naming his strongest side for today’s match.
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The Young Sables will, however, go into the match without flyhalf Angus Bruce, who was forced to travel to Pretoria for specialist treatment on Thursday because of a groin injury.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Murambiwa said the Namibia match would be an opportunity to showcase the strides the country has made at age grade rugby level.
“Tomorrow will be a completely different challenge because it’s Namibia,” he said.
“Before we left Zimbabwe, we always knew this would be a very important game and it will be an opportunity to show the strides we have made at Under-18 level because that’s where it all starts.”
Zimbabwe Under-18 Starting team (1-15): J Mendelsohn, L Ngwenya, S Bhasera (C), T Gonese, E Snyman, B Muntanga, C Bond, D Nyamugama, N Zinyama, C Nyakudya, T Mapfumo, M Ushewokunze, T Mazorodze, T Ngosi, S Snyder
