BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
KAMPALA – The advice is simple from the last Zimbabwe coach to beat Namibia: play rugby in the right spaces.
In his maiden Test in charge, a young Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa guided the Sables to a hard-fought 27-26 Africa Cup win over the Namibians at Hartsfield Stadium in Bulawayo back in July 2001.
Exactly 23 years on, the Zimbabweans will be out to break the jinx in the semi-finals of the same competition in Kampala on Wednesday afternoon, a big ask against the defending champions and Africa’s dominant rugby team outside South Africa.
“Play rugby in the right spaces, no rugby in our half,” Murambiwa told SportsCast on Tuesday.
“Tackle everything in a blue jersey. Take the three-pointers, keep the scoreboard ticking. If they are leading, stay in touch with them: no risky passes. Do not miss tackles. Defend, defend. This is a country that fears us and will come prepared, no matter how weak we think they are.”
Godwin Murambiwa has made the call for the Sables to defend gallantly.
Incidentally, Murambiwa is now head of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) technical committee, so would most probably have personally passed the message to the current Sables coach Piet Benade, who like him attended the rugby-mad Prince Edward Boys High School in Harare.
Murambiwa is a huge admirer of Benade’s ability, and believes the 42-year-old gaffer can take the Zimbabwe team back to its former glory.
“I’ve known Piet since his school days and watched his progress in South Africa when he was coaching at Rondebosch Boys High and at club level,” remarked Murambiwa.
“He is among the best of the next generation of coaches with Shaun De Souza, Costa Dinha, Max Madziwa and Ricky Chirengende. They’ll take Zimbabwe to the next level. The fact that he has been able to bring back quality players such as Tapiwa Mafura, Ian Prior, Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, Tino Mavesere – just naming a few – speaks volumes of the potential Pieter has.”
The winner of the big Southern African derby will take on either Kenya on Algeria in the final on Sunday.
