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Just when the Sables needed to be united and focused to ensure they complete their mission to remain in Pool A and avoid relegation from the World Cup qualifying group, it was a gloomy picture for coach Brandon Dawson and the flagship rugby side as they could be depleted for the crucial encounter.

The Sables are also still battling to raise US$20 000 to fulfil the trip, but by the close of business yesterday they had not met with much luck.
Zimbabwe are the defending Africa Cup champions and if they fail to make it for the continental tournament, they risk suspension from the tournament, demotion from the prestigious group and a huge fine — which they are most likely to struggle to pay.

However, Dawson was left with a headache on his team selection as most of the players who withdrew their services are experienced and form the backbone of the Sables.
Among those who petitioned the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and withdrew from training are captain Costa Dinha, flyhalf Tichafara Makwanya and fullback and former captain Cleopas Makotose.

The Cheetahs duo of Tangai Nemadire and Gardner Nechironga who were recently in Moscow at the Sevens World Cup are among top players who signed the petition and also demanded that team manager Losson Mtongwiza should step down.

They claim that Mtongwiza is “not treating them in the best manner possible’’ and 12 of the players wrote to the ZRU indicating that it has become difficult to work with him.
The letter was also copied to the Sport and Recreation Commission with the players indicating that the differences between the former Old Hararians manager and them had driven them to sit out training.

In their letter titled Vote of no confidence in to team manager, the players also indicated that efforts to have their plight over the last years had not been addresed alleging that Mtongwiza frustrated moves to address their grievances.

“Vote of no confidence on Losson Mtongwiza as Sables manager due to the ongoing differences with players for various reasons namely bringing the team apart, interfering in team selection and victimising all those who question him and not sticking to his duties as team manager.

“He does not talk and treat players with the (sic) respect and in the appropriate manner thus making it difficult (for us) to work with him.
“This is not the first time this has happened or been raised as an issue of concern but sadly nothing has been done about it.

“We feel as players we can no longer work with him and we have since decided we will no longer train until he stepped (sic) down from this post as Sables manager.
“Please find undersigned the names of the local players who were available to sign as the other foreign based players are unable to sign since they are not present but are of the same mind,” read part of the letter.

The ZRU had to intervene yesterday and Dawson his assistant Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge, Mtongwiza, ZRU vice-president Colleen de Jong and Sables committee chairman Bongai Zamchiya were involved in a crisis management meeting before the training session at Old Hararians in the evening.

After meeting with the technical department, de Jong also met with the players who had signed the petition.
While chaos characterised the Sables camp, there was stark contrast across town at St George’s College where the Zimbabwe Under-18 side began camp for the Craven Week festival set for Polokwane next week.

The Young Sables held a largely physical training session in the morning and took the afternoon session together with the St George’s Dragons under the watchful eye of coach Godwin Murambiwa.

“So we are also going to work on that tomorrow so that they learn to take responsibility ,” said Murambiwa.
Murambiwa said his side have not been performing well at the last two editions of the Craven Week because their defence has been the weakest link as they only managed to win two of their six games, both coming against Border Country Districts.

“Between 55 to 65 percent of the time in camp we will largely be focusing on our defence systems and patterns because we realised that this has largely been the area that has let us down in the past years.

“Over the last two years we have not been doing well at the Craven Week Festival and this was because we did not have a good defensive structure.
“So we are going to expose the players more this time and have a defensive game that identifies by position as we try to get more technical and that is the only way we can cope with the rest of the (international) teams,” said Murambiwa.

The players last met two weeks ago during the schools exit weekend, taking advantage of the break to get used to each other for two days and Murambiwa said they are going to work even harder over the next three days.

“Players have received game manuals on the type of game we are going to be adopting and they have been reading and studying such because the game has developed such that it is no longer about just what you learn at the field but study as well.

“This means that the players should brace themselves for a more physical and mentally exhausting three days because this requires a lot of attention to the reading and training on the field.

“I noticed that the last time we got together the players were already exhausted going into the second day of the training sessions because they are not used to such in their schools, but with this programme I am sure we are empowering them more than the schools.

“All we are trying is to be more professional in all we do, we are going to have two training sessions for each of the three days and we will start with normal drills then go on to individual sessions while Saturday will see us have the captains’ run at 8.30am.

“And in doing all this I will not be alone, of course I am going to call in the likes of (former Under-19 coach) Brighton Chivandire and (former Sables coach) Alex Nicholls to help through the drills,” Murambiwa said.

Under-18 Craven Week Squad:

Thabani Mujeni (St George’s College), Bart Zwart (St John’s College), Tapiwa Murangani (Peterhouse), Tafadzwa Kufazvinei (St George’s College), Nicholas Burnett (St John’s College), Ivan Bawden (St George’s College), Daniel Moolman, (Peterhouse), Tinashe Gonese (Hillcrest), Tinashe Gwisai (Midlands Christian College), Rukudzo Gonah (St John’s College) Jabulani Mutukwa (St George’s College),Munyaradzi Mashaya (St George’s College), Thomas Chadwick (St John’s College),Brandon Boshi (St George’s College), Brendon Mandivenga (Peterhouse), Steven Bhasera (Falcon), Glynn Rorke (St John’s College), Tanaka Chikwezhero (Prince Edward), Philangwezi Mudambanuki (Peterhouse), Andrew Dollar(Peterhouse), Justin Zietsman (Falcon), Tawanda Ngosi (Midlands Christian College).
Coach: Godwin Murambiwa
Manager: Tungamirai Mashungu