The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE national fifteen rugby team coach Cyprian “Super” Mandenge is in a positive mood despite a number of players he wanted for Saturday’s Africa Cup Division 1A clash against Kenya in Harare not being available.
The Sables go into camp in the capital today with training sessions to be held at Harare Sports Club. Mandenge disclosed that 30 players are heading into camp with the squad to be trimmed down to the match day 23 on Wednesday. Loosehead prop Denford Mutangamira is still the Sables captain.
Mandenge has however, seen his plans for Zimbabwe’s first match of this year’s Africa Cup being affected by the absence of some of the players he was keen to have for the fixture. The list includes the Mudariki brothers Hilton and Farai, Njabulo Ndlovu, Jan Ferreira, Alva Senderayi, Kingsley Lang, Shayne Makombe, Tichafara Makwanya, Andrew Rose, Lungile Tshuma and Sanele Sibanda. Fullback Tshuma will only be available for the matches against Uganda and Namibia.
The coach is excited about the talent he has at his disposal. He has also defended calling up veteran Constantine Dinha whom he believes is playing good rugby and brings with him leadership into the Sables. The 39-year-old Dinha retired from the game in 2014.
