Victoria Cup: Positive Start as Zimbabwe Sables edge Zambia
This is a good result for Zimbabwe, one which head Coach Brendan Dawson would have liked to be more clinical especially as Zimbabwe faces Uganda in two weeks
Zimbabwe Sables opened their Victoria Cup campaign with a convincing 39-10 victory over Zambia in front of a packed Machinery Exchange Stadium at Harare Sports Club.
By half time Zimbabwe led 15-3 after Daniel Mango and Daniel Capsopoulos dotted a try each, Mangongo had the bigger smile scoring on his debut.
Zambia made two attempts before scoring off a penalty within range, the Sables had built a fortress defense which proved too colossal for the visitors to permeate.
Capsopoulos made it a brace of tries in the second half as did debutant Takudzwa Chieza who scored two blistering tries much to the amusement of the home crowd.
Zambian Coach Lawrence Njovu said they expected a very tough encounter and the result was no surprise.
“We knew Zimbabwe will come hard at us, we beat them last year and we knew they will be coming back for us.
“We came with 70% of a new team and we had a few hiccups as we had injuries from our league final last week. Twelve of our players were injured and we had to pick boys from our under-20s, but we cannot take away anything from Zimbabwe.”
This is a good result for Zimbabwe, one which head Coach Brendan Dawson would have liked to be more clinical especially as Zimbabwe faces Uganda in two weeks.
“The score line is a nice win but I don’t believe we performed as well as I wanted, I don’t think we were accurate enough. We did not protect our ball enough.
“We had some good scummaging and some good line-outs everything was good but we were not clinical and we lost too much ball possession.
“Our penalty count was ridiculous – we cannot afford to play the top-level sides and win like that,” said Dawson.
Meanwhile Zambia Women broke the hearts of Zimbabwe Women’s national team beating them 19-18 having come from a 13-5 deficit at half time.
Churchill Bulldogs were brought to a grinding halt in a 10-10 stalemate against St Georges College in a hair raising school boy derby.
Nigeria: Rugby seminar excites Lagos school Teachers and Pupils
The well-attended event with over 46 primary and secondary school teachers in attendance, also drew stakeholders in the rugby football community
The much-awaited seminar on rugby for primary and secondary school teachers in Lagos Island tagged ‘Get Into Rugby’ lived up to the billings as the participants exuded so much enthusiasm over the seminar.
The event organized by the Lagos Island Rugby Football Club and sponsored by Hon. Larinde Williams, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, was in conjunction with Lagos State Rugby Association, was held at the Christ Church Cathedral School Hall, Broad St, Lagos Island, Wednesday.
And the well-attended event with over 46 primary and secondary school teachers in attendance, also drew stakeholders in the rugby football community including the Chairman, Lagos State Rugby Association, Mr Akinwunmi Akintola, Mr Dele Coker, Team Manager of the Nigeria National Rugby teams.
Others included representatives of the Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission, politicians led by APC party chieftain in Lagos Island, Chief Sobaloju, as well as, Mr. Moshood Mayegun, Education Secretary, Lagos Island LGEA, Mr. Adeyemi Onanuga, Director of Sports, Education District III, and distinguished individuals from different walks of life.
Speaking with the press during the event, the Lagos State Rugby boss, Akintola, said his body would continue to collaborate with the organizers in order to make it better appreciated in the state.
On his part, the founder of the newly formed Lagos Island Rugby Football Club and initiator of the event, Hon. Larinde Williams promised that such a seminar would be a continuous one and with coaches being assigned to schools to train the teachers and the kids.
"We want to follow the success template in countries like England and South Africa, where the sport is introduced to the kids from the ages of 5-6. And we shall see how we can provide these schools with technical support at all times,” the former national basketball and hockey star stated.
Mayegun, on his part, promised that the Lagos Island LGEA is willing to continue its partnership with the organizers to make rugby popular and accepted at the grassroots level and in schools.
The seminar is a prelude to the major event slated for next month, August. It is a twin event to officially launch the newly formed Lagos Island Rugby Football Club, as well as, the Governor’s Cup to commemorate the inauguration of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Zambia turns focus on Kenya meet
The team which comprises both experienced and upcoming players will be expected to put in their very best as they take on the 2nd ranked team in Africa
The Zambia Rugby National Team Coach has shifted his focus to the upcoming Kenya Rugby game set to be played on Saturday 27th July, 2019 at the Diggers Rugby Club in Kitwe.
Coach Lawrence Njovu has summoned a 31 member squad as the team regroups for residential camp this weekend. The team which comprises both experienced and upcoming players will be expected to put in their very best as they take on the 2nd ranked team in Africa.
Those summoned for camp include:
Berthlock Sikaona, Jubilee Chisenga, Patson Kasonde, Mphatso Mwashi, Fine Chinkumbe, Jason Thole, Israel Kalumba, Laston Mukosa, Rogers Mukupa, Edward Mumba, Bwalya Bwalya, Thaddious Chipoya, Vincent Nkole, Elisha Bwalya, Philip Kamanga, Isaac Sakala, Brian Mbalwe, Terry Kaushiku, Gift Kabungo, John Kabwela, Ian Mukupa, Mike Masabo, Chisanga Nkhoma, Nigel Chinese, Lawrence Kaushiku, Enock Mutembo, Mulimbika Mwale, Layson Mulusa, Musenge Bwalya, Larry Kaushiku and Skipper Ali Bhika.
"We are trying to fuse in youth and experience as a way of bridging the Gap between the now and the hereafter, we are not just preparing our team for the Kenya game but beyond too" Njovu said.
Zambia Rugby is among 3 other nations competing in the ongoing Victoria Cup 2019, the rest are Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda. Kenya and Uganda have already played against each other both home and away with each team bagging a win. Zambia played against Zimbabwe last weekend in Harare where they lost by a 39-10 scoreline.
Zambia Rugby is ranked 8th while the visitors Kenya Rugby are ranked number 2 on the Rugby Africa Men's 15 a-side standings.
Many thanks to the APO Group for including us on their media list. JLP
