The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Zimbabwe …………………………………..23
Morocco …………………………………….. 23
PETER DE VILLIERS was left dejected and almost in tears as the Zimbabwe Sables were held 23-all by a resilient Moroccan side at Harare Sports Club yesterday.
Not even a wordsmith of his stature and ability could spin positives as Zimbabwe got off to a less than inspiring start in their 2018 Africa Gold Cup and 2019 IRB World Cup qualifying campaign.
The road to Japan now looks much tougher after yesterday’s stalemate.
“Look here, we made it easy for Morocco, we put them in the game and at the end of the day paid the price for it,” said De Villiers.
“We gave them two soft tries and then we had to play catch-up after that.
“The character of the team came out when we had to play catch-up, but nobody wants to lose and that is exactly what happened here.”
For what the game lacked in result, it made up for it in plenty of entertainment.
First, there was young Shingi Katsvere.
Prior to the game, rumours were abound that the former Under-22 and Prince Edward fullback had wooed De Villiers so much that the Paarl-born tactician was ready to give the young man the keys to the castle and build the team around him.
Handed his debut, Katsvere made the most of his chance, scoring two tries in the first half, including a memorable first that saw the 22-year-old run the full length of the pitch.
Flyhalf Lenience Tambwera put the icing on the cake and coolly converted his first of two conversions and three tries.
Unfortunately, that was all undone by some sloppy defending, as the visitors hit back each time with flyhalf Hridouch Chair making a conversion, from an Ismail Nassik try, and two penalties to give the visitors a 16-14 lead at the breather.
The second half played out more or less the same, with the Sables throwing everything at Morocco and the visitors having an answer for almost everything.
Zimbabwe had the lion’s share on the scoreboard with Tambwera making three more penalties, while the visitors hit back with a try through winger Cadiri Karim.
Chakir once again converted and added another penalty.
With scores tied at 23 apiece, and the clock running out, Morocco’s left-centre Tevnot Samir gave Zimbabwe a glimmer of hope, putting the ball out on the assumption that the game was over.
Zimbabwe won a penalty while in possession, giving Tambwera the chance to hand the hosts victory via the boot.
Unfortunately, the distance and angle was too much for the Sables man as he cued his kick narrowly wide.
Teams
Zimbabwe: D. Mutamangira, D. Makanda, F. Mudariki, K. Nyakufaringwa, F. Chipendu, T. Mandiwanza, C. Pritchard, T. Parirenyatwa, H. Mudariki, L. Tambwera, M. McNab, B. Mandivenga, K. Mashawi, T. Kumadiro, S. Katsvere
Morocco: O. Mohcine, B. Mehdi, M. Akkaoui, B. Salim, G. Jawad, B. Ahin, A. Mohamed, A. Hocine, I. Nassik, H. Chakir, I. Fahd, T. Samir, B. Bryan, C. karim, J. Souheyl.
