The ManicaPost
MUTARE-BORN rugby stalwart, Ngoni Chibuwe, is facing a career changing moment as he was called for camp to try out for the pre-season Currie Cup Qualifiers squad at the Durban-based Cell C Sharks in South Africa.
The Currie Cup tournament is South Africa’s premier domestic rugby union competition featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces.
Although it is the premier domestic competition, South African teams also compete in the International Super Rugby competition.
In a recent telephone interview, Cell C Sharks Currie Cup coach, Paul Anthony, confirmed that two Zimbabweans, Sanele Sibanda from Bulawayo and Chibuwe were part of his provisional draft squad for the 2017 pre-season Currie Cup Qualifiers.
From the Currie Cup tournament level, players that impress at the Cell C Sharks get promoted to the team’s Super League squad which is where Zimbabwean-born Springboks and Sharks star, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira plays.
“Ngoni and Sanele are the two Zimbabwean players in my provisional Currie Cup squad at the moment, but whether they get their debuts this year, it is a wait and see.
We have a lot of friendly matches lined up before announcing the final team. Beast (Mtawarira) will be playing Super Rugby which is a different level. Our Currie Cup level is just below the Super Rugby level,” he said.
Anthony added that finality on the 2017 fixtures and the first draft of players would be complete soon.
“No finality has been reached yet on the actual competition and how it will be laid out. We are waiting for that and we should know that by the end of the week.
We are, however, looking forward to this year’s competition and obviously finalisation of players. However, I can confirm that they (Chibuwe and Sanele) are the two Zimbabweans training with us and are putting a good performance, but obviously competition is strong,” said Anthony.
Sharks is one of the most revered rugby clubs in South Africa having won the Currie Cup trophy three times in 2008, 2010 and 2013 and were runners-up in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2011 and 2012.
Last year, they, however had a disappointing run after ending the league on position five with the Free State Cheetahs scooping the league.
While the competition lags behind Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship (previously the Tri-Nations), the Currie Cup still holds a special place among South African rugby supporters and players.
It also comes highly regarded by international selectors as the best talent scouting platform in the South African domestic rugby scene.
On the other hand, Chibuwe, the 23-year-old utility back, who hails from the high-density suburb of Dangamvura, has been slowly making inroads in the rugby domain since his high school days at Mutare Boys’ High School and Hillcrest College where his skills were sharpened often being selected in the junior provincial and national team.
His professional rugby career, however, set off in 2015 after being drafted into the Sharks Sevens rugby side.
In the same year, he received his first cap for the Zimbabwe senior national side, the Sables, after being drafted in the Hong Kong Cup of Nations tournament squad.
To-date, Chibuwe now has seven test caps for the Sables.
In a telephone interview last Wednesday, Chibuwe said he was excited about the opportunity.
“My dream is to play Super Rugby and I am glad that I have been slowly climbing up the ladder heading in the right direction.
I thank my coach Anthony who has been developing my level of play and opening doors for me in my professional rugby career. I just look forward to a great year and hope I make the cut,” said Chibuwe.
Early this month during his pre-season break, to show his love for the sport and for his home town, Chibuwe launched his rugby academy, Hearts of Stones at Mutare Sports Club and ran a week long coaching clinic from January 1 to 6.
He said he would be holding more coaching clinics for his academy each time he comes home during season breaks.
“In the future, I hope to bring big Super Rugby names to my academy and inspire local (Mutare) rugby players. I have a big vision for developing rugby back home and will never forget my roots,” said Chibuwe.
