Sables Test Namibia Power as Giants Clash in Zimbabwe Top Soccer League
Vice-captain Tichafara Makwanya is confident that they will come out with a positive result over a team that has taken over from Zimbabwe as Africa’s flag bearers.
HARARE — The Zimbabwe rugby team, the Sables, left for Namibia Friday afternoon ahead of their 2015 Confederation of African Rugby Africa Cup final. The Sables have not had the best of preparations with players coming from home for training while others have withdrawn from the squad due to club commitments and injuries. But vice-captain Tichafara Makwanya is confident that they will come out with a positive result over a team that has taken over from Zimbabwe as Africa’s flag bearers in international rugby. Namibia lead the Africa Cup standings with eight points while Zimbabwe are second with six points and the winner of this game will clinch the 2015 Africa Cup. Namibia are going to the World Cup in six weeks’ time and have assembled their strongest team for the Zimbabwean game. However, a look at the preparations from the two teams shows that the Sables do not stand a chance. But in sport, anything is possible. In soccer, Castle Lager Premiership action returns this weekend with two closely-watched fixtures both in Harare and Bulawayo. Sunday Chidzambwa returns to Rufaro Stadium with his ZPC Kariba to face Dynamos, the team that gave him fame, both as a player and coach. The two teams are going through a bad patch and Chidzambwa, who has not won a league match since taking over from the departed Saul Chaminuka, is relishing a clash with the team he led to the CAF Champions League final in 1998. Chidzambwa refused to predict the outcome of the game but says he is happy that his team is taking the shape he requires. Ironically, Dynamos coach Tonderayi Ndiraya played under Chidzambwa when the bearded mentor was in charge of Dembare. Ndiraya has so much respect for Chidzambwa but promises a good show from his boys. The other exciting pairing is at Barbourfields Stadium where Highlanders and How Mine meet for the second week running. Bosso were beaten 4-3 on penalties last weekend in the Chibuku Super Cup but the chairman of the Highlanders Supporters Harare chapter, Moderm Ngwenya, promises revenge. Table toppers, Chicken Inn, have the chance to extend their lead when they host inconsistent Chapungu at Luveve Stadium tomorrow. The other matches on the menu are as follows: Flame Lilly v Caps United - Lafarge Harare City v Dongo Sawmills – Rufaro FC Platinum v Hwange - Mandava Tsholotsho v Triangle - White City Struggling Hwahwa meet Buffaloes at Ascot Stadium.