YOUNG Sables coach Bob Mahari yesterday named his 25-man squad set to will compete at the Junior Africa Cup to be held in Windhoek, Namibia starting on Wednesday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Explosive former Falcon College wing Sam Phiri, who is part of the Western Province Under-19 setup in South Africa will lead the team in the continental showpiece which also acts as qualifiers for the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy. The squad features four players who were members of the Young Sables squad that finished second at the last year’s tournament held in Harare, namely prop Tinotenda Musasanura, flank Aiden Burnett, wing Russel Dinha and fullback Shingirayi Katsvere.
Phiri and Tarisai Mapfumo and Takudzwa Gamanya were also part of the national Under-20 side which finished last in the World Under-20 Trophy competition, hosted by Zimbabwe early this year.
The Zimbabwe team which leaves the country this afternoon will be eager to grab the sole ticket for the next edition of the second-tier World Rugby junior showpiece.
Mahari’s charges open their campaign with a tricky tie against Kenya in the first round of games on Wednesday, where a win will see them taking on the winner between Tunisia and hosts Namibia in the final on Saturday. Last year the Young Sables came agonisingly close to claiming their fourth continental title before Namibia snatched a last gasp extra time win to seal their record sixth title.
Mahari, who was assistant to former head coach Brendon Brider, says they will not be focusing too much about what happened in the past and would be aiming to start on a clean slate.
“We are focused on the game against Kenya and that’s the only game that matters right now before we look at either Tunisia or Namibia,” he said. “If we beat the Kenyans then we’ve got four days to reload and plan for whoever we will be playing next we don’t want to get caught up looking ahead or behind. The squad looks decent and because of the camp we had in the buildup to the tournament,. I think we’ve got quite a close-knit team and management and we are excited about the Namibia trip,” he said.
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Zimbabwe Under-19 Squad: Edwin Nxumalo, Aspiration Mutore, Timothy Jaravani, Moses Gunda, Zvikomborero Muzorewa, Francis Hwangwa, Aiden Burnett, Takudzwa Gamanya, Tapiwa Mulenga, Russel Dinha, Loveridge Muderere, Tamuka Pamire, Sam Phiri, Shingirayi Katsvere, Felix Toma, Tawanda Mudyiwa, Godfrey Muzanarano, Givemore Muchenje, Adrian Zvarevashe, Tarisayi Mapfumo, Albert Garira, Solomon Goto, Ralph Tirivanhu, Vuyani Dhlomo Head coach: Bob Mahari, Assistant Coach: Jeffrey Madhake, Team Manager: Tonderai Chigumbura, Physiotherapist: Ropafadzo Banhwa
