ZIMBABWE Rugby Union (ZRU) are still optimistic that Golden Lions fly-half Guy Cronjé’s papers will be sorted on time, ahead of the Tri-Nations tournament to be played in Namibia next month.
BY ALBERT MARUFU
Zimbabwe intends to use the Tri-Nations tournament involving Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya, as part of next year’s 2015 World Cup preparations.
The Tri-Nations tournament runs from November 8 with the Sables taking on Namibia before engaging Kenya four days later.
Cronjé is one of several foreign-based players who have retraced their roots in a bid to help Zimbabwe qualify for the World Cup.
The highly rated Cronje twins trace their Zimbabwean roots through their paternal grandparents. The fly half, together with his twin brother Ross, who is a scrumhalf, recently helped the Johannesburg-based Golden Lions franchise regain promotion to next season’s Super Rugby at the expense of the Southern Kings.
Sables’ team manager Losson Mtongwiza said Cronjé is out of the team for now, but all the other players who had expressed a willingness to play for the team will be available.
“Cronje’s papers are still being worked on and if everything is sorted out before the tour then good for us. However, we do not have problems with other foreign-based players, as they have all confirmed their participation. We expect all the foreign-based players to be here before October 31 with camping starting a day later in Bulawayo,” he said.
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“We will have more foreign based players this time, as Nick Winwood (Blackheath, England), Martin Wolfenden (Cambridge, England), Royal Mwale (Ballito Dolphins, SA), Michael Passaportis (Valence, France), Kingsley Lang (Jersey, England), Andrew Rose (Boroughmuir, Scotland), Hilton Mudariki (Amersham & Chiltern, England) and Sean Moan (Blackheath, England), will be available. Mudariki is already in the country.”
Zimbabwe need to win next year’s Africa Cup to guarantee themselves automatic qualification to the World Cup finals that will be held in England in 2015.
Tri-Nations fixtures: November 8: Namibia vs Zimbabwe November 12: Kenya vs Zimbabwe November 16: Namibia vs Kenya.
Sables training squad: Tatenda Murwira (OH), Kudzai Mudzekenyedzi (Mat Warriors), Fidel Nyabusha (HSC), Nick Winwood (Blackheath, England), Martin Wolfenden (Cambridge, England), Alfred Sairai (OH), Pieter Joubert (OGs), Jakov Jakov (OGs), Keith Murray (OGs), Royal Mwale (Ballito Dolphins, SA), Jan Ferreira (Mat Warriors), Costa Dinha (OH), Michael Passaportis (Valence, France), Kingsley Lang (Jersey, England), Fortune Chipendo (OGs) Jacques Leitao (OGs), Tawanda Chowe (OH), Andrew Rose (Boroughmuir, Scotland), Biselele Tshamala (Varsity College, SA), Lucky Sithole (Mat Warriors), Phil Machisa (HSC), Ian Armstrong (OGs), Hilton Mudariki (Amersham & Chiltern, England), Teddy Hwata (HSC), Boyd Rouse (OGs), Lenience Tambwera (HSC), Tichafara Makwanya (OH), Garth Ziegler (OGs), Daniel Hondo (HSC), Tatas Mutataguta (OGs), Simbarashe Chirimuuta (HSC), Leroy Mashiri (OH), Sean Moan (Blackheath, England), Takudzwa Chieza (OH), Patrick Tenesi (OH), Shayne Makombe (HSC), Gardner Nechironga (OH), Kudakwashe Chiwanza (OGs), Lungile Tshuma (OH), Tangai Nemadire (OH), Courtney Mwatsiya (Mat Warriors).
