The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN rugby youngsters left the country last Friday headed for their respective yearly Youth Weeks in White River, Mpumalanga, South Africa, which get underway tomorrow.
The Zimbabwe Under-14 team will take part in the Under-13 Coca-Cola Craven Week while their Under-17 counterparts are participating in the Under-16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week. Both tournaments are taking place at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira in White River with the Zimbabwe lads in action today. The Zimbabweans are facing the Griquas in their opening fixtures.
Former Sables skipper Maxwell Madziva is the Zimbabwe Under-14 coach while Marvin Chirume is the man in charge of the Under-16. The teams left last Friday for their tournaments which run from tomorrow until Friday.
Old Mutual Zimbabwe Under-17 for Under-16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week
Looking at the Under-14s, the team is dominated by Saint John’s College with eight players, followed by St George’s College with seven. Hellenic Academy contributed two players while Lilfordia, Heritage, Churchill, Falcon College and Christian Brothers College have one youngster each in the travelling squad of 23. For the Matabeleland schools, hooker Vidal Bravo of CBC and fullback Nokutenda Gunda of Falcon College were the only boys who managed to attract the national selectors at the trials held at Kyle College in Masvingo in May.
Yesterday, the Under-14s took on Pumas B in a friendly match in White River as they geared up for the Craven Week.
Zimbabwe Under-17 rugby team for Under-16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week
For the Under-17s, they played a friendly encounter against Pretoria Private Schools at St Albans in the South African capital city yesterday prior to departure for Mpumalanga today. Lomagundi have the highest number of players with six, St George’s College, Prince Edward and St John’s College have five each. Peterhouse, Kyle College and Falcon College contributed two apiece.
Falcon College were the only Matabeleland school to get representation for the Grant Khomo Week with two of their lads, prop Anesu Huni and flank Tanaka Gondo-Mukandapi making it into the team. Huni was called up to replace Tadiwa Chinwada of Lomagundi who could not travel as he has chicken pox.
The Gordon Pangeti-coached Zimbabwe Under-19 are also gearing up for the Under-18 Coca-Cola Academy Week in Bloemfontein next month. With the schools on half term break, the team had a camp at Heritage in Harare last Thursday until today which afforded Pangeti an opportunity to work on combinations.
Zimbabwe Under-14 for Under-13 Coca-Cola Craven Week
Henry Peech, Luke Wring, Wayne Malandu, Stephan Kruger, Calton Takawira, Tashinga Chingonzo, Thomas Judson, Tyde Stirrup, Mutsawashe Choto, Dion Junga, Ethan Chaponda, Munangi Kamwendo, Malachai Burrell, Jared Wilson, Davis Mushapaidze, Runyararo Bere, Vidal Bravo, Paul Mwikipeni, Andrew Maringa, Anthony Tumazos, Munashe Kawondera, Nokutenda Gunda.
Coach: Maxwell Madzima
Assistant coach: Jafet Ndebele
Team manager: Tanetswa Dinhidza
Zimbabwe Under-17 for Under-16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week
Happious Zhou, Ryan Mackenzie, Nqobile Manyara, Tamuka Kambani, Graham Hoal, Richard Mapfumo, Mwaita Makanza, Tanaka Ndoro, Welton Charumbira, Zvinoda Chikoto, Tadiwa Kurenjekwa, Dion Khumalo, Tanaka Chinyanga, Tashinga Makiwa, Simbarashe Kanyangarara, Bryan Chiang, Farai Madzima, Anesu Huni, Muzuva Gutu, Panashe Zuze, Brendon Marume, Alex Nyamunda, Daniel Johnson, Nathaniel Hungwe, Tanaka Gondo-Mukandapi, Patrick Nyeperayi, David Yosa.
Coach: Marvin Chirume
Assistant coach: Constantine Dinha
Team manager: Shaun De Souza
—@Mdawini_29
