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Mbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Rugby Union director of rugby and Sables great Brighton Chivandire has been named among some of the national team’s former players, who will square off against their South African counterparts in a one-off match in Victoria Falls next month.

The match being organised under the auspices of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) as part of their efforts to market the country’s tourist attractions has been slated for March 28 at Victoria Falls Primary School. Chivandire, a former national team lock, will team up with 19 others who donned the Sables jersey during their playing days.

Now the director of rugby at the ZRU, Chivandire was capped several times for the Sables and also had the privilege to coach the senior team in the Africa Cup and the national Under-19 side that qualified for the Junior Rugby World Cup.

The list of those earmarked to play in the game in Victoria Falls also includes David Walters who toured Europe with the Sables in 1989.

Former forward Justin Buchanan, Paul Staark and former captain Costa Dinha are some of the ex-Sables international included in the squad.

The South Africans are also not new to Zimbabwe having played against some of the country’s greats in 2013.

The match has been slated for Victoria Falls puts into perspective ZTA’s bid to try and use sport to also market the country.

ZTA are also understood to have secured a commercial partner for this event. Event co-ordinators Robin Brown described the match as being more than just a game of rugby.

“We are very grateful to have the Springboks legends to play against Zimbabwe and we believe the match will be very exciting.

“The match will not just be a remembrance of the sport but the main objective will be development of the sport. So it will be very beneficial for both those in the sport and the new players.

“The legends will also be giving back, encouraging and supporting new players in a number of ways, this will be a good event because the kids at Victoria Fall Primary will have a chance to rub shoulders with legends of rugby,” said Brown.

The South Africans will be under the guidance of Ian McIntosh who has been involved in rugby for over 50 years and made his mark when he guided the Natal Sharks to their first Currie Cup title in 1990. The match is being sponsored by ZTA, Africa Albida Tourism, African Sun, Wild Horizons, Blue Arrow Coaches, Africa and Mapopoma, Liqorama Victoria Falls and Cansaf and will be beamed live on SuperSport. ZTA chief executive Karikoga Kaseke expressed excitement at the staging the event which the tourism boss believes will also market the Victoria Falls and clear many wrong perceptions about this country.

The children will also have an opportunity to mix with legends when they attend the rugby coaching clinic which will be conducted by legends on March 27.

Squads

Zimbabwe:

Brett Holloway, Brighton Chivandire, Brayan Ray, Costa Dinha, Graig Riley, David Walters, Emmanuel Munyoro, Gary Bowes, Greg Friend, Justin Buchaanan, Juan Du Plessis, Mat Accorsi, Paul Staark, Rory Jackson, Sanele Sibanda, Sean Grant, Sean Robinson, Tapiwa Mangezi, Warren Wentzel, Mzingayi Khumalo.

South Africa:

Louis Louscher, Pieter Dixon, Eugene Marx, Trevor Boynton, Werner Cronje, Jonno Braylen, Graig McIntosh, Johnathan Moekwena, Neil Cole, Henno Mentz, Grant Esterhuizien, Mac Masina, Trevor Halsrtead, Lawrence Sephaka, Doppies Le Grange, Dave vo Hoesslin, Wayne Munn, John Slade.