Disorder costs Young Sables in Madagascar
ZIMBABWE national Under-20 rugby coach Farai Mahari has blamed his team’s dismal show at the Barthes Cup in Madagascar to mayhem which saw the technical department concerned with issues that had nothing to do with them.
The Zimbabwean juniors returned home without a win from the tournament, having lost all their matches in Group A against Kenya and Madagascar. Zimbabwe lost 34-24 to Kenya in the semi-finals and then went down 36-35 to Madagascar in a third place play-off. Namibia won the competition with a 66-24 triumph over Kenya in the final.
Mahari, who took over the team from Brendon Brider last year put down the losses to lack of order in his camp which resulted in his technical team bogged down by matters such as securing funds which is not their core business.
He felt that in terms of talent, they were the best but then at the same time they were found wanting in terms of being organised.
“It was very disappointing, towards the end of our preparations things were not good either, on talent we were the most talented but we were the most disorganised. Those things affect how you carry out your duties. We had three guys who did not make the flight because it was fully booked, our starting flyhalf Jeremiah Jaravaza, he couldn’t make the flight from Harare to Kenya, they had to come the next day. Our bench flyhalf had flight motion, all those things throw people off,’’ said Mahari.
He felt that the friendly match they played against Matabeleland Warriors in Bulawayo was tougher than what the Kenyans posed and on Madagascar, Mahari is convinced that one of the top schools sides from Zimbabwe would have beaten them.
“Mat Warriors was a tougher game than most of those teams, we just didn’t step up to the plate. The lack of order clearly weighed in on the players. As a coach you need to be a lot more organised. I ended up spending a lot of time finding stuff, one hopes we can be more organised going forward. I can’t be the one chasing after money, my job is to prepare boys,’’ moaned Mahari.
The chaos in the Zimbabwean team was visible when it came to the clothing which saw players wear different socks during matches. Mahari put that down to the firm that was supplying the socks. Team captain Zvikomborero Muzorewa also attracted attention when he wore formal shoes during a photo shoot where captains display their teams’ playing kit which the coach attributed to language issues since the team liaison officer had conveyed the message that it was a formal dinner.
“We had those in the starting squad in yellow socks and those on the bench in green. The company that was supplying didn’t have enough, we had no sponsor. We got kit from the director of rugby but the shorts were not from the same kit. Language was also an issue that resulted in the captain being in formal for a photo shoot, it wasn’t the young man’s fault at all,’’ Mahari said.
Lack of funding also saw the team travel with just three members of the technical team, the coach, manager and physiotherapist. With Rugby Africa only covering airfares for 25 players and three technical team members, assistant coach Jeffrey Madhake as well as strength and conditioning coach Mark Wilson being left behind.
Mahari indicated that he was in the process of consulting with his technical team before he speaks to Zimbabwe Rugby Union to find a way forward. After that he will make a call on whether he calls it quits or sticks around.
ZRU president, Nyararai Sibanda indicated that reports regarding the Young Sables have been submitted and were being attended to with a communiqué to be sent out once it has been completed. they do not write like a football supporter and when the referee flags an offside they can better adjudge whether it was the correct decision and how and why that decision was reached,” he said.
Spoja chairman, Muziwethu Hadebe expressed gratitude towards Zifa for the gesture saying the course is certain to empower football writers.
“We are glad Zifa responded positively to our request and the course is coming after we held a similar rugby course just over a month ago.
“We look forward to engaging other associations and stakeholders with a view of conducting such technical courses so that we not only empower our members but also play a role in the development of sport,” he said.
Former Mighty Warriors assistant coach Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda, a holder of a Caf A Licence badge, will facilitate the course.