Bulawayo based players have been training in the city, while their Harare counterparts were going through their paces at Harare Sports Club.The two squads are set to be trimmed and amalgamated into one smaller group on Wednesday as preparations for the semi-finals gather momentum.A squad of 25 players will be picked to go and do duty in Africa’s rugby showcase.Bulawayo-based national team coach Brendan Dawson has been guiding the Bulawayo contingent while assistant coach Cyprain Mundenge presided over the Harare-based squad.Team manager Noddy Kanyangarara said that the players have been preparing well in both camps.“They have all been training well but next week we will have a look at the available players and come up with the best squad that will continue with the preparations in Harare,” said Kanyangarara.In Harare, a squad of 29 players was selected and the players have been fighting it out to make the final squad.Among those are Harare Sports Club’s Dennis Mutangira, Tangai Nemadire, Daniel Hondo, Gerald Sibanda and Cleopas Makotose.Jacques Leitao, Deron Esbach, Fortune Chipendo, Costa Dinha, Josh Rowe and Njabulo Ndlovu were also called up from the championship winning District Dragons.From Bulawayo such names as Paul Staark, Wesly Mbanje, Simba Musarurwa and Gadner Nechironga are likely to feature in the amalgamated squad.Zimbabwe qualified for the semi-finals, which will be hosted by Senegal, after accounting for Madagascar, Mauritius and Botswana. On the other hand, the other qualifying tournament pitting Kenya, Uganda and Namibia failed to take off at the weekend and Kanyangarara said that they will only know about what happens next on Monday.Morocco, ranked 25th in the world, are the other team that has since qualified for the semi-finals and Zimbabwe will need exceptional performance to improve its world ranking from 51.The Zimbabwe team is expected to play two select sides from Harare and Bulawayo as part of their preparations. –– Staff Writer.
