The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
THE Zimbabwe Under-20 coach Brendon Brider hopes to work on the team’s mental strength and conditioning when the Young Sables re-group in March to finalise their preparations for the Junior World Trophy.
Zimbabwe is set to take part in the Junior World Trophy for the first time in four years when they host the annual competition in April.
Namibia, Spain, Samoa, Uruguay, Hong Kong and Fiji are expected to grace the event.
“The main goal of our last camp was just to get the players out there, get them together and get them to understand the Zimbabwe Under-20 rugby environment,” said Brider.
“It went well, we had a good turnout with both the local guys and a few foreign-based players showing up.
“It was a case of perfect timing with a huge chunk of the players home for the holidays. We gave them an opportunity to mix and mingle before re-grouping.
“We also used this particular camp to familiarise ourselves with some of the foreign-based players, asking them their requirements for the March camp.
“We are fully confident that all the required paperwork will be met for the guys to come back for the camp and the tournament.
“We intend to get the permission and paperwork from the various schools, jobs and academies that some of these players go to by the time we meet again,” he said.
Speaking on his plans, Brider said the Young Sables will re-group for two full-squad camps between now and the tournament, with the first taking place in March.
“We have two full-squad camps scheduled between now and April when the games begin.
“Other than that, the local based players will be training three times a week,” he said.
Brider went on to reveal that during the two main camps, conditioning and mental strength will be the main focus.
“Its off-season now and the players are coming from the holidays so we intend to work on conditioning a lot when we re-group in March.
“This is a huge tournament, not only for Under-20 rugby, but also for Zimbabwe rugby and the country as a whole.
“With that comes the need to compete, win games and fly the country’s flag high, which translates to a lot of pressure.
“It’s unfortunate we have limited exposure to international rugby and it’s quite a big thing for the boys to hear that they have fixtures against teams like Samoa or Fiji.
“It’s quite daunting and it’s one of our main goals as management to instil belief in the boys. Belief that Zimbabwe is not only as good as these teams but that it is also capable of being better and actually beating them.
“During the two camps, we will work on fitness, conditioning and team synergy.”
The Young Sables’ training squad had their first sparring session of the year last week.
The camp, which ended yesterday, resumes in March.
Zimbabwe Under-20 training squad
Forwards: Connor Pritchard (Falcon College), Cole Bond (St John’s College), Aiden Burnett (St John’s College), Tanaka Chikwezvero (Maritzburg, SA), Tinashe Gonese (SA), Ronald Jiri (Dale College), Muchineripi Mangenje (Prince Edward), Justin Mendelsohn (Sharks), Rodrick Mubaiwa (UK), Tinotenda Musasanura (CBC), Kudakwashe Ndoro (Prince Edward), Martin Shioma (Limpopo Blue Bulls), Panashe Sora (Prince Edward), B. Muntanga (Falcon), S. Bhasera (UJ), J. Makoni (PE), L. Kenny (SGC), S. Magwenzi (Churchill), Ndaba (PE), T. Bwerinofa (Kyle), T. Zhoya (UJ), C. Butler (Falcon), D.Nyamugama (Freestate), L. Ngwenya (USA), T. Muchena (SGC), K. Chisango (SGC), T. Mangwana (Aus).
Backs: Russell Dinha (Prince Edward), Tadiwa Gochera (St Benedict’s College), Shingirai Katsvere (Prince Edward), Mudiwa Manhombo (St Benedict’s College), Tatenda Matoramusha (Prince Edward), Joshua Gando (Lomagundi), Ernest Mudzengerere (Prince Edward), Tawanda Ngosi (Durban), Matthew Ushewokunze (Falcon College), Ngoni Zinyama (UK), C. Nyakudya (Falcon), R. Elliot (Durban), M. Muswaburi (Nottingham Academy), K. Kazembe (WPI), M. Musvaiburi (UK), G. Mavara (Dale), Maupah (Goldridge), Phiri (Falcon), R. Chionyere (Churchill), F. Murinye (SGC), T. Mapfumo (Kyle), K. Munangi (Maritzburg), D. McRoberts (UK), T. Vheriwa (PH), A. Bruce (SGC), T. Moses (PE), T. Gamanya (Kyle)
