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Daniel Hondo

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THREE Zimbabwe sides are this week set to travel to Cape Town for various rugby assignments. The Cheetahs are set take part in the Assupol International tournament this weekend, the Under-17s are expected to feature in the Grant Khomo Week while the Under-13 side play in the Craven Week edition. With the Under-13 and Under-16 South African Youth weeks running concurrently for the first time, Zimbabwe Under-13 team manager Tan Dinhidza believes this will work to the advantage of his side.

In previous editions, the tournaments were held in successive weeks but this year they will both run at the same time at Paarl Gymnasium School in Cape Town. “I think this is good especially for the Under-13 side because they will also get to watch the senior players in action.

“It gives great exposure to the boys as they will be watching better quality rugby and also learning at the same time. So at the end of the tournament their (rugby) knowledge would be big,” said Dinhidza.

The Under-13 festival is known as the Craven Week while the Under-17s is called the Grant Khomo Festival and will both run for a week at Paarl Gymnasium School starting on Monday while the Unde-18 edition is slated for Durban the following week.

All of the players in the Under-13 team will be competing for the first time as a team having graduated from primary school last year and Dinhidza feels this makes selection a rather tough process.

“It is very tough because most of the children would not be properly trained and won’t have experience. But I guess that is the idea so that we give the players a starting point and pass them on to the Under-17s and move on up to the Under-18 and Under-20.

“But after realising the difficulties we faced in selection over the past years, we now have a blueprint that we identify and start working with the potential players while they are still in primary schools.

“We work with them during their Grade Seven August and December holidays and also during the April schools holiday when they would be in Form One. We are also planning that after the Craven Week tour we make sure they stay together.

“We plan on having tours until they are Under-15 because there is too huge a gap between Under-13 and Under-17,” said Dinhidza. The Zimbabwe Under-14 School rugby side will have another practice match on Sunday ahead of their Paarl departure for the Craven Week Rugby Festival in South Africa.

As part of their Craven Week preparations, the Under-13 side played a practice match against Mbare Academy at Heritage school winning 25-7. “All the players called up for the camp are in good spirit ready to participate in the forthcoming Craven Week festival the boys are working very hard and are ready for the battle in Cape Town.

“The support we have received from our parents and the Zimbabwe Rugby Union has been incredible,” said Dinhidza. Meanwhile, the Cheetahs last night got their Assupol preparations underway with a speed test at Harare Sports Club and the final squad is expected to be largely dominated by local and South Africa-based players.

“We will move to ball skills as the week progresses,” said Hondo. Zimbabwe Under-13 Squad: Cedric Masiwa, Oliver Paterson, Daniel Mazorodze, Tanaka Ndoro, Alex Nyamunda, Takudzwa Zvomuya, Mwaita Makanza, Nkosana Sikala, Panashe Zuze, Tadiwanashe Hungwe, Rly Nyakura, Giles Munyamana, Munotida Marimirofa, Tawonga Taonezvi, Munopa Zinyama, David Yosa, Happymore Manyoporo, Taonaishe Mapani, Brendon Marume, Tadiwanashe Kavhura, Alexander Whitefield. — sportszone.co.zw