The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
KUDAKWASHE Chiwanza, who traces is early childhood to the environs of the resort area of Chimanimani, is eyeing a sensational comeback to the Sables fold after the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) announced the training squad for the Victoria Cup, a four nations tournament that features Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) early this week announced the Sables training squad for the Victoria Cup which also included Chiwanza together with homeboys Ngoni Chibuwe, Brian Nyaude Martin Mangongo and Godwin Mangenje.
“It is going to be a good bonding opportunity for the team, between the younger and older guys. It would be great to win the tournament again. I am hoping to be part of the team and I strongly hope that we will succeed as a team,” he said. Sables get into camp on Monday. The Victoria Cup has been revived this year after the cancellation of the Gold Cup, before its cancellation in 2004, it featured Kenya and Zimbabwe.
It is a very important revival of competitive rugby which will be very import in Zimbabwe’s road to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Starting from November 2019, 16 teams will compete in the new Rugby Africa Cup (RAC) with an aim to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in 2022. The top 16 teams based on the African ranking will compete in a single coordinated competition until the last two face each other in the final.
The first stage consists of a qualifying round where the winner of each of these four matches will progress to the group phase.
The squad: Royal Mwale, Tyran Fagan, Henri Boshoff, Keith Murray, Matthew Mandioma, Neil Mawere, David Makanda, Cleopas Kundiona, Kudakwashe Chipunza, Godwin Mangenje, Jan Ferreira, Kudakwashe Nyakufaringwa, George Saungweme, David Kapuya, Biselele Tshamala, Blithe Mavesere, Brian Nyuade, Aiden Burnett, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Ernest Mudzengerere, Hilton Mudariki, Kuziva Kazembe, Brandon Mandivenga, Jeremiah Jaravaza, Martin Mangongo, Chibuwe Ngoni, Daniel Capsopoulos, Takudzwa Chieza, Shayne Makombe, Riaan O’Neil, Kudzai Mashawi, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Matthew Macnab, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Shingirai Katsvere, Kudakwashe Chiwanza Rufaro Chikwaira and Wesley Chiromo Team Management Head Coach: Brendon Dawson Assistant Coach: Tonderai Chavhanga Defence Coach: Liam Middleton Conditioning Coach: Daniel Hondo Manager: Jason Maritz
The Victoria cup match schedule:
22 June Kenya v Uganda
TBA Kenya v Zimbabwe
13 July Uganda v Kenya
13 July Zimbabwe v Zambia
20 July Zimbabwe v Kenya
27 July Uganda v Zimbabwe
27 July Zambia v Kenya
10 August Uganda v Zambia
17 August Kenya v Zambia
24 August Zimbabwe v Uganda
31 August Zambia v Uganda
14 September Zambia v Zimbabwe
