eBusiness Weekly
Chipo Sabeta
All eyes will be on Zimbabwe Sables coach Peter De Villiers, who has an immediate task to lead the Zimbabwe rugby senior team qualify and seeking to end a 27-year jinx to return to the World Cup stage.
The 60-year-old is expected to stamp his mark on Zimbabwean rugby tomorrow as the Sables begin their quest in the Africa Gold Cup with a potentially fierce clash against Morroco at Harare Sports Club.
The kick-off time is 1330hr.
Following the appointment of the former Rugby World Cup winning Springboks coach in February this year, it’s a highly anticipated new era for Zimbabwean rugby as they seek another dance at the global rugby fiesta to be in Japan next year.
Upon his appointment, De Villiers told the media that it was “the greatest day of his life and was keen to leave the mark”.
De Villier is said to have changed a lot of things and has given the boys the sort off spark.
Zimbabwe awaits for the historic moment.
The former scrum — half, who played for Griquas and Boland during the apartheid era in South Africa added, “I am delighted at this new move and I want to assure not only Zimbabwe rugby but sport as a whole, that my time has come.”
There is high eagerness in the country and the rugby community is keen to witness De Villiers’s exploits starting on Saturday.
Captain Denford Mutamangira praised De Villers for instilling self-belief and confident to the Sables.
The veteran Harare Sports Club loose-head prop is confident that De Villers will take them to the Promised Land.
“He is an amazing coach and he has brought so much belief and knowledge into the team. He is definitely taking us to the next level. One of his strength he gets the best out of his players.
“Belief is of vital importance in sport both individual and team sports, but in team sports individual players not only have to believe in their selves as an individual but also believe in every other individual player in the team. We really appreciate him, he is special,” the 33-year-old player said.
During his tenure as Springbok coach from 2008 to 2011, De Villiers has under his belt historic wins.
He is popularly known as he was the first coach for the Springboks to beat the All Blacks home and away in Christchurch in the Tri-Nationsin 2009 as well as enjoying a series win against the British and Irish Lions that same year.
De Villiers was the first non-white man to coach South Africa.
Whilst acknowledged and trusting De Villiers’s valuable leadership to restore the glory days, Mutamangira has described Saturday’s clash as “a big battle worth fighting for”.
“It’s up to players to stand up and be counted tomorrow. It’s going to be a physical battle, it’s going to be a battle of attrition and skill sets that will be tested. In the rugby pitch, players have to rise to the occasion because the coach doesn’t play,” he said.
“I would say we are prepared, we have come a long way and our combinations are coming out right which is a positive thing. We have really worked hard to be where we are. Last month we were in camp at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria and played a number of matches.
“We don’t know Morocco but we are ready for anything they will throw at us. We have to be strong in the tackle, strong over the ball and defend well. We ready to take them on,” Mutamangira added.
Qualification this year will be the third time Zimbabwe appears at the Rugby World Cup. First appearance was in 1987 and the second being in 1991.
The Sables will participate in the Africa Gold Cup against Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia and Uganda in a round robin format.
From Saturday the Sables will travel to Kenya on June 30 before another clash in Tunisia on July 7.
They will continue in the Africa Gold Cup when they face Namibia at Hartsfield in Bulawayo on August 18
The top team will automatically qualify for the Rugby World Cup.
The second placed team will participate in another round robin format tournament against other international teams for the final spot at the Rugby World Cup.
Meanwhile, gate charges have been pegged at US$2 for kids, US$5 general entrance and US$10 VIP.
