Zimbabwe boys for South Africa varsity cup

TWO Zimbabwe international rugby players, Godfrey Muzanargwo and Blithe Mavesere will get to improve their game by playing in South Africa’s top competitions for tertiary institutions, the Varsity Cup for the University of Western Cape.

Muzanargwo and Mavesere play for Zimbabwe in sevens and fifteens versions of the game at international level. Last year, the two played a pivotal role in Zimbabwe winning the Victoria Cup, where the Sables finished with five wins out of the six matches they played against

Kenyan Uganda as well as Zambia. The two have also turned out for country’s sevens rugby team, the Cheetahs having come through the Zimbabwe Under-20.

Farai “Bob” Mahari, who coached Mavesere at Churchill, Pitbulls and Zimbabwe Under-20, is delighted to see one of his products breaking into the Varsity Cup.

“I am really proud to see him grow through his journey,’’ said Mahari.

Muzanargwo, a former Prince Edward School first team rugby captain and Mavesere were recently named in a Cheetahs training squad ahead of the inaugural World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, with the first tournament taking place in Viña del Mar, Chile on 15 and 16 February. It is yet to be seen if the two would be available to represent the country seeing that the Cheetahs assignments will see them miss on in the nine-team Varsity Cup. With the duo understood to be on scholarship, they might choose to play for their university ahead of their country.

A number of Zimbabwean players have appeared in the Varsity Cup for South African universities over the years. Michael Williams, Stephen Bhasera, Tapiwa Mafura are some of the Zimbabwean who have made an impact in the Varsity Cup.