De Souza yearns for more

IN 1993, teams in the top league played the first season of the National Premier Soccer League. The clubs had voted, in 1992, to form a breakaway league that would not be directly run by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).

The inaugural league was won by Highlanders. Of great interest to this article was the spread of teams in the league.

There were two Bulawayo teams (Highlanders and Zimbabwe Saints), two Chitungwiza teams (Darryn T and Fire Batteries), five Harare teams (CAPS United, Dynamos, Black Rhinos, Black Aces, Black Mambas. However, Rhinos played several of their matches at Marondera’s Rudhaka Stadium before falling out with the locals).

There was a team each from Gweru (Chapungu), Mhangura (Mhangura), Hwange (Wankie), Mutare (Tanganda), Zvishavane (Shu Shine) and Redcliff (Ziscosteel).

Every team based in Harare and Bulawayo, as well as all those from outside the major cities, held their home games in their respective

AFTER what many are calling a historic season for the Zimbabwe Under-20 team, Shaun de Souza hardly feels any happiness, fulfilment or sense of achievement.

Back-to-back Barthes trophies, a longawaited debut at the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy (Junior World Trophy) and 13 wins out of a possible 16 matches currently have the country raving about the Zimbabwe Junior Sables’ exploits and, more importantly, the man behind the success — De Souza.

However, there is a hollow feeling inside the seasoned gaffer as his dreams and aspirations lie at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, which is the top-tier agegroup competition. It was also, as De Souza puts it, “the ultimate goal”, when he signed up to coach the team.

“Yeah, the year (2023) was a good one; it was a long and good journey,” said De Souza.

“Winning the Barthes Trophy again in April and then getting a fifth-place ranking at the Junior World Trophy were definitely great achievements.

“The 13 wins out of 16 matches were also a phenomenal run, but I actually believe we have the talent to improve on that record,” he said.

In the time since the season ended, back in August, the Prince Edward Tigers and Zimbabwe Under-20 coach has refused to rest on his laurels and soak in the adulation and praise from both the nation and his contemporaries.

Rather, De Souza has already started plotting yet another raid on both the continental rugby contest and, in part, the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy.

“The pathway has already been set, our foundation for 2024 has already begun with our talent identification programme.

“We have reached out and identified players we want to have a look at during our camps. We have a few foreign-based players coming from the United Kingdom, the United States of America and quite a number from South Africa.

“The pool we have in camp is very talented, and we hope to use the time we will have them with us for the December holidays to identify those who can make the grade,” he said.

Of course, the 2024 Zimbabwe Junior Sables squad is set to look completely different, as De Souza is set to lose as many as 14 of his top players.

They are Bryan Chiang, Tadiwa Chinwada, Tanaka GondoMukandapi, Muzuva Gutu, Simbarashe Kanyangarara, Alex Nyamunda, Dion Khumalo, Tawanda Matipano, Brendon Marume, Gealan Jaricha, Gerry Zisengwe, Shadreck Mandaza, Leo Mutendi and Panashe Zuze.

The cluster will have graduated from the Under-20 level by the time the Barthes Trophy returns for the 2024 edition.

However, the good news for De Souza is that he has already identified seven players around whom he will build his team.

They are Shingirai Manyarara, Huntley Masterson, Tadiwanashe Bwanya, Allan Mawunga, Edward Sigauke, Brendon Jameson and Benoni Nhekairo.

“We have retained seven players who were at the Junior World Trophy, and the trick will be to build the team around them,” said the Junior Sables gaffer.

“Shingi Manyarara, who is now based in France, will be a key component of that team and we hope to have him available for the important assignments.

“He will certainly receive assistance from the likes of Masterson, our Zimbabwe Cheetahs player Sigauke, Jameson and Nhekairo. “We should be okay in that regard,” he said. The format of the 2024 edition of the Barthes Trophy is set to go through a couple of changes.

The top four teams from the 2023 edition — Zimbabwe, Kenya, Namibia and Tunisia — will play a round-robin tournament, with the winner earning a ticket to the 2024 World Rugby Under-20 Trophy.

By his own admission, the changes in format make next year’s campaign a bit tougher.

However, he hopes to draw lessons from his back-to-back successes at the 2022 and 2023 Barthes Trophy, and debut at this year’s World Rugby Under-20 Trophy.

“I think the biggest lesson learnt from the last couple of months is just trying to make sure the players are at the same level. Things like seniority and ranks, while they are a culture in most teams and sports, can really have a negative effect on the team,” he said.

“As a coach, it was one of my observations during the reviews that these caused a little bit of friction and mayhem within the camp.

“Our defence on the African stage stood out, as we only conceded one try during the Barthes campaign, but we did not step up our game when it came to the Junior World Trophy. That must change.

“There is also a need to work on the mental strength of the team. We did well to come back and show character in many games during the Junior World Trophy but had bad starts to certain games owing to nerves.

“That is another area we have to work on during our preparations,” he said.