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Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor

ZIMBABWE’S preparations for their high profile Rugby Africa Gold Cup showdown with perennial rivals Namibia has taken a knock with influential flyhalf Lenience Tambwera a huge doubt for Saturday’s test at Hartsfield.

The Sables are desperate to make the most of their remaining two matches in this year’s Gold Cup campaign which is also serving as the African Zone World Cup qualifiers.

Peter De Villiers’ men have found themselves in a tight spot after a three-match winless start left them out of competition for the sole ticket to the World Cup jamboree in Japan next year.

De Villiers has remained optimistic even in the face of the tough times his Sables have gone through in a campaign that has yielded a 23-23 draw against Morocco and two away losses to Kenya in Kampala and Tunisia.

The former Springboks coach has made some changes in a bid to bolster his faltering side including calling up German-based forward Antipas Kamwkindo, the Cheetahs wing Shayne Makombe and recalling scrumhalf Hilton Mudariki, who is now based in the United Kingdom.

But just as they looked to strengthen their team ahead of their biggest challenge in the Gold Cup, the Sables may have to make do without Tambwera who has been a key figure in this team.

The Harare Sports Club man has been contributing points either from his boot or when touching down tries including the brace he scored in the 18-14 loss to Tunisia.

Tambwera confirmed that pressing work commitments related to the just ended harmonised elections, had left his availability huge doubt.

The Sables Number 10 has not been able to train with the national team since the start of camp last week.

“At the moment it’s 50/50 if |I am done early (with work commitments), I might go and join the squad but if am not I think I will miss this one,’’ Tambwera said.

The Zimbabwe Rugby Union have also been hard at work handling the first phase of the refurbishment work at Hartsfield, which had been a pathetic state and barely resembled the home of rugby that the venue has traditionally been referred to.

More work is set to be done once the sticking points that have stalled the bid by Harare law firm Titan Law to fully renovate the stadium have been resolved.

ZRU vice-president Martin Shone who led the team that ensured Hartsfield would be ready for the Namibia game said the union was working to clear the frustrations that have derailed the bid by Titan Law to step in and renovate the stadium.

“The stadium is more than ready for the big game. A Lot of work has been done to refurbished the dressing rooms, the toilets and the pitch itself has been worked on extensively.

“We are just working on clearing on the unnecessary delays especially on the part of the Matabeleland Rugby Board in getting the deal with Titan Law done,’’ Shone said.

Shone, however, said the Local Organising Committee that had been working to prepare for Saturday’s game were ready to stage a fine rugby outing for the game’s enthusiasts.