Story by Raynald Ngwarati
ALL is set for the epic Battle of Zambezi as the Zimbabwe senior men’s rugby team, the Sables clash with their Zambian counterparts at Harare Sports Club this Sunday.
As the reigning African champions, the Sables prepare for their title defence in the Rugby Africa Cup slated for Uganda, they face regional foes, Zambia in a blockbuster Test match set for Harare Sports Club.
With the match set to mark the team’s return to action, the Sables have a tough task on their home turf as they entertain their competitive neighbours to renew an iconic rivalry dubbed the Battle of the Zambezi.
Nicknamed the Siamese twins, the two countries who share many things in common including relations that span beyond the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, continue to be evenly tied on the pitch, playing out to close matches every time they have battled against each other on the rugby pitch.
This Sunday will serve another thrilling instalment of the battle, with the home team opting for local stars, granting caps to former U20 starlets Benoni Nhekairo and Dion Khumalo who make up the 40-men squad named to participate in the raging affair.
Khumalo has been entrusted with leadership duties, after being named one of the vice captains.
The two teams always dish out edge-of-the-seat blockbusters with the Sables boasting of a better head-to-head record in the Battle.
Last year the Sables completed a double over their opponents having won 32-28 in the first affair at Prince Edward School in the Mwana Rugby Group Schools Festival, before a 17-22 in the reverse encounter played at Lusaka Rugby Stadium in Zambia.
While the Sables endure the raging battle, Botswana will be watching with a keen eye on the side-lines as they too will face Zimbabwe in another Test on May 10.
Zimbabwe is using the Battle of Zambezi series as part of its preparations to retain the Rugby Africa Cup scheduled for Uganda from the July 7 to July 21.
