The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
NOW that the job is done and Zimbabwe are the new African champions, coach Sean De Souza has sent out an urgent appeal to the corporate world for more investment and more attention to age-group rugby.
De Souza and his men were crowned African champions after beating Namibia 19-14 in the final of the Barthes Trophy at Kenya’s Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
Tries from winger Liberty Sibanda and scrum-half Panashe Zuze, in addition to two penalties by fullback Brendan Marume and another three-pointer by skipper Takudzwa Musingwini, sealed a memorable fourth continental title for Zimbabwe.
The team returned home on Monday to a hero’s welcome as scores of rugby fans thronged the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to celebrate the team’s momentous achievement.
For De Souza and his men, ‘vindication’ was the order of the day.
“The boys arrived today (Monday) to a huge crowd at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, and it was fantastic to see the support and it was overwhelming for some of the boys,” said De Souza.
“For me, It is just credit to all the work we have put in all the time we have spent away from home just trying to get this team going and putting the foundations in place.
“We just wanted to prove a point that there is talent in this country, and we can take our rugby to the next level.
“The only appeal now is that we did all that with limited resources, and we urge the corporates to come in and support the youth.
“We urge them to come in and support the Young Sables, as they are the grassroots and foundation to the senior Sables and Cheetahs’ systems.
“At the moment, we carry the title of African champions and that is a credit to the work ethic and skill-set we currently have at age-group rugby.”
