Mama: Zimbabwe not an option yet
WORCESTER back row Marco Mama has shone a light on the dilemma facing many overseas-born players by revealing why he had to put cash before country by spurning the chance of representing Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifying this summer.
Mama, a proud Zimbabwean who left the strife-torn country at 16 but whose parents remained, was invited to nail his Test colours to their mast. However, the 27year-old says losing his England-qualified status would be akin to professional suicide. Mama told The Rugby
Paper: “I still feel very connected to Zimbabwe and they have been on to me about playing for the national side. They recently signed Peter De Villiers as head coach and seem serious about getting into the World Cup.
“But for me the EQP is too valuable to be able to explore the option of playing for Zimbabwe, and that’s why England do it; they incentivise players and clubs to have EQP status and if I manage to play for England that will justify their stance.
“You can understand the rationale and at this stage I still have ambitions to play for England, but if that doesn’t happen and the timing was right, I would never rule out playing for Zimbabwe because I have such strong contacts.”
Mama insists financial considerations are too great, adding: “Playing for your club is the primary thing: it’s your job and it provides income. As much as I’d love to play for the country that gave me so much, it’s got to make financial sense.
“Losing EQP status would threaten my contract situation in England, and Zimbabwe are not offering anywhere near what I earn at Worcester. It’s just not something I can consider at present.”
Meanwhile, Mama is ploughing the comeback trail after featuring in the last four Premiership matches last season following his recovery from a serious knee injury.
The former Bristol man explained: “I’d finished the previous season really well and things were looking good, but I ruptured my ACL just before our first pre-season game last summer and it was absolutely terrible timing for me.
“It changed everything and it was a very tough year, but the medical team did a fantastic job to get me back a month early and it was good to get those last few games. I’m feeling fit and strong again now and back to where I was.”
Mama will take on more of a leadership role as Warriors aim to buck their unwanted trend of being perennial relegation battlers. He added: “In each of the three years I’ve been here we’ve been in the bottom three and I’ve had four directors of rugby in that time, but you learn a lot and with Alan Solomons (left) now in charge there seems to be more stability. “I had a taste of leadership at the end of last season and that’s something I’d like to continue, but there’s huge competition in our back row with Cornell Du Preez, Sam Lewis and Ted Hill pushing after his great U20s World Cup. “Physically I’m up for it, though, and I feel like I’m coming into the prime of my career, so I’m aiming to have a really big season.”