ZIMBABWE rugby team backliner Gardner Nechironga has come out of retirement after agreeing to fight for a place in the Sables squad preparing for the Africa Cup opener against Kenya at Prince Edward School next Saturday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
The former Sables and Cheetahs wing announced his retirement from international rugby at the end of last year to give younger players a chance and focus more on his club rugby career with the Raiders Club in Johannesburg.
However, six months after his decision, Nechironga (31) has had a change of heart and was included in the extended 34-man Sables training squad ahead of the team’s training camp which starts on Saturday.
In an interview with NewsDay Sport yesterday, Nechironga said he decided to come out of retirement after being convinced by Sables coach Cyprian Mandenge to reconsider his decision.
“Coach Cyprian Mandenge asked me to reconsider my decision, so I’ve decided to come down and help the boys since I’ve still been playing club rugby for Raiders here in South Africa.
“I’m delighted the coach feels I can still make a contribution to the team,” said Nechironga, who was part of the Sables squad which won Zimbabwe’s only Africa Cup title to date in 2012.
Nechironga’s return comes after an impressive season with Raiders, who enjoyed a good run in South Africa’s premier club tournament for non-university clubs, the Cell C Community Cup.
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He is one of several experienced players named in the training Sables squad together with the likes of prop Denford Mutamangira, Cleopas Makotose, Fortune Chipendu and fullback Tangai Nemadire. Also making a return to the Sables set-up is scrumhalf Charles Jiji, who is back in the country after a stint in the United Kingdom where he was playing for Hartpury College.
Zimbabwe, however, look set to be without experienced loose forward Jacques Leitao due to work commitments, while the quartet of Njabulo Ndlovu, Lambert Groenewald, Hilton Mudariki and Shayne Makombe are also unavailable for the tie.
Sables Training Squad
Forwards: Denford Mutamangira, Tatenda Murwira, Farai Mudariki, Pieter Joubert, Lawrence Clemenson, Royal Mwale, Kudzai Muzorewa, Jan Ferreira, Martin Wolfenden, Sanele Sibanda, Biselele Tshamala, Tadiwa Parirenyatwa, Andrew Rose, Fortune Chipendu, Kingsley Lang, Shingai Mpofu,David Makamba Backs: Charles Jiji, Taddy Whata, Tichafara Makwanya, Lenience Tambwera, Boyd Rouse, Riaan O’Neil, Stephan Hunduza, Gardner Nechironga, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Tangai Nemadire, Lungile Tshuma, Malvern Maparura, Cleopas Makotose, Daniel Capsopolous, Kuda Chiwanza, Mclean Muhambi, Andrea Banda, Kilvan Magunje
