The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
TWO friendly matches have been lined up for the country’s fifteens rugby team against Botswana and Zambia as the Sables prepare for the Rugby Africa Gold which starts next month.
Zimbabwe take on Botswana on 27 May in a match lined up for either Gaborone or Francistown before they clash with Zambia at home on 3 June. Sables coach, Cyprian Mandenge said preparations for this year’s crucial World Cup qualifiers have not been ideal with funding challenges. He indicated that they had plans to hold camps in Bulawayo and Harare but that has not been possible because finances were not permitting.
Zimbabwe play Senegal on 24 June, clash with Namibia on 15 July before they have two home fixtures. First to come to Zimbabwe are Kenya with the match slated for Hartsfield on 22 July prior to Tunisia making the trip for a match set for 29 July in Harare. The last match is an away assignment to Uganda on 5 August. Winners of this year’s Rugby Africa Gold Cup will automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup while the runners-up have a chance via the repechage.
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