The Sunday Mail
Deputy Sports Editor
Nedbank Zimbabwe took their smart partnership with the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) to another level when they gave a cash injection that is expected to boost the Young Sables as they resume business next weekend.
Nedbank were the sponsorship rock upon which the Sables’ bid to qualify for the 2023 World Cup was built.
Last week, the bank went a step further and ensured the next generation of Sables are catered for when they chipped in with US$20 000.
It brought the total sponsorship to US$350 000 within the 12-month period the bank partnered with ZRU.
The timely boost came on the eve of the Young Sable’s departure for Canada on Friday.
Nedbank executive head of sales and origination Heresy Herry said it was a no-brainer that they would extend their help to the Under-20 side.
“The exploits by the Under-20s certainly cannot go unrecognised.
“We were watching when they were playing in the Barthes Cup in Kenya.
“We will not only be giving the team good wishes as they head to Canada, but we are unveiling our modest support for the Under-20 rugby team,” Herry said.
“We are a bank that believes in empowering the community because they are our customers. If the community succeeds, we succeed.”
The Young Sables are in Canada ahead of the start of the International Rugby Series tournament slated for August 13 to August 24 in Ontario.
The tournament is a World Rugby initiative meant to give participants of next year’s Junior World Trophy some much-needed game time.
Chile and Uruguay will also be taking part in the tournament.
Zimbabwe will begin their campaign with a date against hosts Canada.
Sean De Souza’s side might be African champions but they go into the tournament as clear underdogs given that they are the lowest-ranked team in Canada.
Zimbabwe have also been hit by injuries to some key players.
“We are basically ranked fourth, looking at the teams that we are playing, and we certainly are the underdogs,” said De Souza.
“We will take the same pages that we used in Kenya, at the Barthes Trophy, try to replicate them and see how best we can perform against these sides.
“We don’t know much about them, but like they will have a look at us, we know about the culture of these nations.
“The trick will be to stick to our systems, make sure we have all our bases covered and hope for the best.”
It has not been all gloom and doom for the reigning African champions.
The quartet of skipper Takudzwa Musingwini, Tavonga Ablant, Tawanda Matipano and Brendan Marume, who had a taste of the game at Sables level, have all recovered from their injuries and niggles.
In Harare Sports Club, the Young Sables found a replacement for Uganda for the scrimmage match De Souza had hoped to play before departing for Canada.
“That was definitely a big blow; it had come into our plans for our Canada Series preparations.
“However, when one door closes, another opens,” said De Souza, in reference to the Uganda friendly.
“We were fortunate enough to get a scrimmage match against Harare Sports Club, and we have managed to make up for that gap that was created by the postponement of the Uganda match.
“We had some of the Sables players that came back with niggles, but they have all recovered and are raring to go.”
He said the players had boosted morale in camp, as the team are banking on their recent experience with the Sables and Goshawks.
