Rugby, soccer, cricket skills rolled in one

Sport
Lawson’s Young Sables teammate, Masasire, is also riding on the crest of excelling in multiple sports.

Lawson’s Young Sables teammate, Masasire, is also riding on the crest of excelling in multiple sports. Last year he turned down a contract offer from flamboyant Premier Soccer League side FC Platinum, who were keen on his midfield services after scoring 15 goals in six matches for Prince Edward at the Windmill Soccer Tournament.

  He arrived in the country last week from the Under-19 World Cricket Cup to find Young Sables coach, Brighton Chivandire, anxiously waiting for him on the day Zimbabwe played Kenya, but was rested to shake off the jet leg of a long flight from Australia.

  “I will not forget my 68 runs off 45 balls against Papua New Guinea at the cricket World Cup,” said Masasire.

  An opening left-hand batsman, Masasire is on a rugby and cricket scholarship at Dale College in South Africa after being spotted while with the Young Sables at the Craven Week in Kimberly last year. The 19-year-old fly-half, who planted two tries and converted a penalty in Zimbabwe’s 42-0 mauling of Tunisia at the CAR Championships last Wednesday, is also undecided about his future.

  “It is a very tough decision for me to make. I might end up pursuing an academic career. Many people ask me what I want to do, but I always tell them that I am confused. But my schedule at college is flexible and allows me to do either sport,” said Masasire.

  While he grew up playing cricket at Glen View 8 Primary School, his first encounter with the oval-shaped rugby ball was interestingly in 2006 as a Form One pupil at Prince Edward, where he was on a cricket scholarship.

  He made his debut for Zimbabwe against Kenya Under-18 at CFX Academy two years ago.

  The South African rugby system has in recent years robbed Zimbabwe of its best players and Masasire could find himself trapped in a situation where for him to earn a contract with a professional side, he has to commit himself to the Springboks.

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